Results of adrenalectomy in lung cancer metastases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to report our centre's experience over the past 15 years with patients with lung carcinoma and adrenal metastases treated sequentially with lung resection and adrenalectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed a retrospective series of 19 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for lung carcinoma metastasis. All patients were operated on at the same centre, between October 2000 and October 2015. We performed a descriptive analysis and an overall survival and disease-free survival analysis.

RESULTS: The study included 13 men and 6 women. The most common primary lung tumour was adenocarcinoma, 87.5% of which were G3. In 7 patients, the adrenal metastasis was detected synchronously, and in 12 patients it was detected metachronously. The median size of the metastasis was 63mm. Twenty-one percent of the cases presented local recurrence, and 79% presented distant metastasis. The median DFS was 21.5 months, while the DFS at 5 years was calculated at 58.33%. The median overall survival was 37.3 months, while survival at 5 years was calculated at 42.86%. None of the prognostic factors evaluated were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Adrenalectomy in cases of isolated lung carcinoma metastasis can offer increased overall survival. Age and the degree of differentiation of the primary lung carcinoma are the factors that most influence poorer survival.