Adrenal autotransplantation.

Abstract

New tools for the diagnosis of adrenal diseases and the development of successful techniques to treat patients with bilateral tumors of the kidney have increased the number of procedures involving removal of both adrenals. Offering to these patients an adrenal autograft represents more than a superfluous medical exercise, since a successful outcome of the graft will relieve them of the burdens and risks of long-term postoperative steroid replacement therapy. The aim of this review is to bring to mind the possibility of autografting adrenal glands in some clinical situations and to emphasize some points that could be relevant in obtaining successful results. The available data justify clinical trials with the procedure.