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Adrenalectomy
Adrenalectomy is surgery to remove one or both adrenal glands — the small hormone-producing glands that sit on top of each kidney — most often to treat a hormone-producing tumour, a suspicious growth, or cancer. Most people recover well, and for many the operation resolves the problem that caused it.
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Briefly about this treatment
Indications
A hormone-producing adrenal tumour (for example, one causing Cushing's syndrome, Conn's syndrome, or a pheochromocytoma), a growth that looks suspicious for cancer on imaging, or cancer that has spread to the adrenal gland.
Risks
Bleeding, infection, and injury to nearby organs. Risks are minimised by careful patient selection and experienced surgical teams.
Pre-procedure
Hormone and blood tests, imaging of the adrenal gland, blood-pressure control where needed (especially before surgery for a pheochromocytoma), an anaesthesia consultation, and fasting per protocol.
Follow-up
Scheduled clinic visits at 1, 4 and 12 weeks; ongoing monitoring of hormone levels and blood pressure, and, where relevant, surveillance for cancer recurrence.
What is Adrenalectomy? An expert explains
Your adrenal glands are part of your endocrine system — the network of glands that makes the hormones controlling your blood pressure, metabolism, stress response and blood sugar. Even though each gland is only about the size of a walnut, it does a lot of work.
Surgeons remove an adrenal gland (or both) for one of three reasons: a tumour that’s making too much hormone, a growth that looks suspicious on a scan, or cancer that has spread to the gland from somewhere else in the body. Most adrenal tumours are benign — cancer starting in the adrenal gland itself is uncommon. If only one gland is removed and the other is healthy, it takes over hormone production for both, and most people don’t need lifelong hormone replacement. If both glands are removed, or the remaining gland can’t keep up, you’ll need daily hormone medication — and with the right treatment, people without adrenal glands can expect a normal life expectancy.
Signs it may be time for Adrenalectomy
You and your doctor may start talking about surgery if you notice:
- Hard-to-control high blood pressure, even on medication, sometimes with low potassium, muscle cramps or weakness
- Weight gain around the middle with a rounder face, purple stretch marks, easy bruising or new muscle weakness
- Episodes of a pounding heartbeat, sweating, headache and anxiety, often alongside high blood pressure
- An adrenal growth found on a scan, sometimes by chance during imaging for something else, especially if it’s larger than about 4 cm or growing over time
- A known cancer elsewhere that has spread, or is suspected to have spread, to the adrenal gland
Having an adrenal growth does not automatically mean you need surgery — many small, non-hormone-producing tumours are simply monitored. Your care team will guide that decision based on your scans and hormone tests.
These are the conditions linked to this treatment in the directory. Your clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate using your symptoms, examination and test results.
- Cushing’s Syndrome (Renal Impact) — Steroid (cortisol) excess causing high blood pressure and raised CKD risk.
- Pheochromocytoma (Renal Complications) — A catecholamine-secreting adrenal tumour that raises blood pressure and kidney risk.
- Hyperaldosteronism — Aldosterone excess causing hard-to-control blood pressure, low potassium and alkalosis.
- Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) — The most common kidney cancer in adults, which can involve or spread to the adrenal gland.
- Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC) — An inherited FH-gene condition that raises the risk of kidney and, in some cases, adrenal tumours.
Remember: These entries are not a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. Discuss your symptoms and test results with a qualified clinician.
When to consult a specialist
If you’ve noticed stubborn high blood pressure, unexplained changes in weight or body shape, new muscle weakness, or sudden episodes of a racing heart with sweating and headache, it’s worth getting checked — these are common, and most causes are manageable once they’re identified. A simple blood test, urine test or scan is often enough to tell your care team what’s going on and whether an adrenal gland is involved. You don’t need to have all the answers before you reach out. Use the find a specialist link to connect with a verified urologist, endocrine surgeon or endocrinologist who can review your symptoms and test results and talk you through whether adrenalectomy — or something else — is the right next step.
How a session works
Most adrenalectomies are done under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will choose one of these approaches, depending on the size and type of tumour, whether one or both glands are involved, and your overall health:
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (most common): 3–4 small (about 1 cm) incisions in the abdomen or side. A thin camera (laparoscope) and slender instruments go through these cuts; the surgeon works while watching a video screen. One incision is slightly enlarged at the end to remove the gland.
- Robot-assisted adrenalectomy: A variation on the laparoscopic approach where the surgeon controls robotic arms for extra precision and a magnified 3D view.
- Open adrenalectomy: A single larger incision, used for bigger tumours, some cancers, or when a minimally invasive approach isn’t safe.
- Unilateral vs. bilateral: Removal of one gland (unilateral) or both (bilateral) — most cases are unilateral.
- Total vs. partial (cortical-sparing): In select cases, especially certain hereditary conditions, surgeons remove only the diseased part of the gland to preserve some hormone-making tissue.
Session duration
3–4 hours
recorded for this treatment
Cost verify
$8000–$30000
indicative range
Anesthesia
General
recorded for this treatment
Remember: The exact steps, duration and preparation can vary with your indication, health and care setting. Confirm the current plan with your treating team.
Benefits
For hormone-producing tumours, adrenalectomy often brings fast relief. Symptoms from excess hormone — the physical effects of Cushing’s or Conn’s syndrome, or the episodes caused by a pheochromocytoma — can start improving almost immediately, and blood pressure frequently gets easier to control. For cancer or a suspicious mass, removing the gland can be curative or a key part of cancer treatment.
- Fast, often near-immediate relief from hormone-driven symptoms
- Blood pressure that’s easier to control, sometimes with fewer medications
- A clear diagnosis, since the removed tissue is examined in the lab
- Smaller scars, less pain, and a quicker return to normal activity with laparoscopic or robotic approaches compared with open surgery
- For many people, the operation resolves the underlying problem entirely
Risks & side effects
This treatment has risks and trade-offs to discuss with your care team. The information below comes from this treatment’s data: bleeding, infection, and injury to nearby organs are possible; risks are minimised through careful patient selection and experienced surgical teams. As with any surgery, complications are possible, and they’re more common with open surgery than with laparoscopic or robotic approaches.
- Bleeding (transfusion is uncommon, needed in under 5% of laparoscopic cases)
- Infection at the incision site
- Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
- Injury to nearby organs or structures (spleen, liver, pancreas, kidney, major blood vessels)
- Need to convert from laparoscopic to open surgery mid-procedure
- Adrenal insufficiency — if both glands are removed, or the remaining gland doesn’t take over fully, you’ll need hormone replacement
- Pain and soreness for one to two weeks after surgery
Who it may not suit: These are general cautions, not a personal verdict. A qualified clinician must assess your full medical picture before recommending or delaying treatment.
What happens during & after
Before: You may need blood-pressure monitoring, specific medications, and imaging in the days or weeks beforehand — this is especially important for pheochromocytoma, where blood-pressure control before surgery reduces risk. You’ll be asked to stop certain medications (like NSAIDs) and fast the night before.
During: Once you’re under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes the incisions, carefully separates the adrenal gland from the top of the kidney and surrounding structures, and removes it. The tissue is sent to a lab for examination. A typical procedure takes roughly one to three hours, depending on approach and complexity.
After: You’re moved to a recovery room and monitored as you wake up. Laparoscopic and robotic patients often go home the same day or the next day; open surgery usually means a hospital stay of up to about five days. Your team will check your hormone levels and blood pressure, and will let you know if you need steroid medication while your body adjusts.
Possible complications
Less common but more serious complications include pneumonia or lung collapse (more often after open surgery), wound infection or abscess, and significant bleeding requiring transfusion. For pheochromocytoma cases in particular, blood-pressure swings during surgery can occur and require close anesthesia management. Adrenal (steroid) crisis is a rare but life-threatening complication after bilateral removal, or in anyone whose remaining gland is underperforming; it needs emergency care.
Remember:
New or severe symptoms require prompt medical advice. Do not wait for a routine appointment if you feel seriously unwell.
Recovery
Hospital stay: Same day or next day for most laparoscopic/robotic cases; up to about five days for open surgery.
General timeline: Most people are sore for one to two weeks. Full recovery and return to usual activity typically takes two to three weeks, though this varies by person and by approach.
At home, you’ll generally want to:
- Rest and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity until your surgeon clears you
- Take medications exactly as prescribed, including any temporary steroid support
- Hold a pillow over your incision when you cough, sneeze or take a deep breath
- Care for your incision(s) as instructed and watch for signs of infection
- Ease back into your normal diet, starting with bland foods if your stomach is unsettled
- Attend your follow-up appointment so your team can check your hormone levels and healing
Call your care team promptly if you have pain that doesn’t improve with medication, a fever, redness, swelling or drainage at the incision, or stitches that look loose. Seek emergency care for severe weakness, persistent vomiting, dizziness, fainting or confusion — these can be signs of adrenal insufficiency or crisis, particularly after bilateral surgery.
If your tumour was cancerous, your care team will schedule ongoing monitoring for recurrence and discuss whether further treatment is needed.
Clinics offering Adrenalectomy
Verified kidney centres linked to this treatment in the KidneyGlobal directory.
University Hospital
Urologic Oncology & Robotic Surgery
ISO 9001European Urology Boardda Vinci Robotic Center
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Academic Medical Center
Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery
Joint CommissionNCI Cancer CenterRobotic Surgery Excellence
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Academic Medical Center
Kidney Transplantation
Joint CommissionUNOS CertifiedLiving Donor Excellence
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Good questions
Most Common Questions
Is adrenalectomy major surgery?
It's real surgery, but most adrenalectomies today are done laparoscopically (through a few small cuts), which means less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery than older open techniques.
Will I need medication after surgery?
If only one gland is removed and the other is healthy, usually not. If both glands are removed, or your remaining gland doesn't produce enough hormone, you'll need daily hormone replacement.
Can I live a normal life with one adrenal gland?
Yes. One healthy adrenal gland is generally enough to support normal hormone function.
Is an adrenal tumour the same as cancer?
No. Most adrenal tumours are benign. Your doctor uses blood tests, urine tests and imaging to check whether a tumour is hormone-producing or concerning for cancer.
How long does recovery take?
Most people are sore for one to two weeks, with a full return to usual activity in about two to three weeks for laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Open surgery generally takes longer to recover from.
Can I find a verified surgeon for this through KidneyGlobal?
Yes — KidneyGlobal's doctor listings show verification status, credentials and specialty focus, so you can compare urologists and endocrine surgeons before booking a consultation.
Sources
- AdrenalectomyMayo Clinic
- Adrenalectomy (Adrenal Gland Removal)Cleveland Clinic
- Adrenal Gland RemovalMedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal CancersAmerican Cancer Society
- Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy (patient information leaflet)East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Surgical Indications and Techniques for AdrenalectomyPMC, National Library of Medicine (peer-reviewed review)