Minimally Invasive Surgery for Adrenal Cancer

The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. Adrenal cancer is very rare, with fewer than 200 cases per year reported in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Other adrenal diseases may also require surgery, such as benign and functional adrenal lesions.

At Mount Sinai, we often remove the entire adrenal gland (adrenalectomies) or part of it (partial adrenalectomies) using minimally invasive procedures such as robotic surgery. You have two adrenal glands, just like with kidneys, and require only one for this organ’s function (production of hormones).

Laparoscopic approaches have been considered the standard of care for removing the adrenal gland, when surgically feasible. You potentially benefit from a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery, and less pain when compared to open surgery. Often, you can go home within 24 hours following surgery.

Robotic approaches to removing the adrenal gland are very popular and show great promise in improving surgical accuracy and efficiency.