Search

Background: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is now regarded as the procedure of choice for treatment of small or benign adrenal tumors, including pheochromocytoma. However, long-term outcomes have not been critically assessed. We report here 3 cases of pheochromocytomatosis recurring 3 to 4 years after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. We postulate laparoscopic-induced seeding of tumor as the mechanism of recurrence., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 3 patients with documented biochemical and radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine evidence of recurrent pheochromocytoma after prior presumed curative laparoscopic adrenalectomy., Results: Original pheochromocytomas were 5.5 to 6.5 cm in diameter. At the time of laparoscopic adrenalectomy, tumors were not believed to be malignant, based on clinical or histopathologic data. However, on 3- to 4-year follow-up, each patient developed symptoms, elevated urinary catecholamine levels, and metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging consistent with recurrence. At reoperation, multiple small tumor nodules were found in the adrenal bed near the site of the initial laparoscopic resection. The original operative notes suggested some possible method of local seeding: tumor fragmentation and spillage or excessive tumor manipulation., Conclusions: Pheochromocytoma recurrence may occur as a result of local spillage of tumor during laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The relative risk of recurrence between open and laparoscopic resection needs to be assessed. Long-term follow-up will continue to be important, regardless of operative approach.

The effect of abnormal flow dynamics on prostacyclin (PGI2) production by intact endothelium is unknown. To investigate this we studied the effects of graded stenoses on vessel wall PGI2 production in dogs (n = 8) whose femoral and carotid arteries (n = 32) were narrowed by machine-milled clips, producing 1.0 cm segmental stenoses of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% diameter reduction. Three dogs were injected with Indium 111-labeled platelets and 12 vessels were scanned for platelet deposition. All stenotic vessels were excised at 6 weeks for histologic study (hematoxylin-eosin section and immunohistochemistry for factor VIII) and PGI2 radioimmunoassay (as the metabolite 6-keto PGF1 alpha). All vessels remained patent with no thrombus formation in any segment. Vessel imaging in platelet-labeled animals showed no significant deposition. Histologic analysis demonstrated an intact endothelial surface in the stenotic segments, confirmed by the demonstration of factor VIII production by these cells. PGI2 production (per unit surface area) by the arterial segments with greater than or equal to 50% stenosis markedly exceeded the PGI2 production by the normal proximal and distal segments (p less than 0.0002) and showed further significantly increased production with increasing degrees of stenosis (p less than 0.00001). The data indicate increased PGI2 production by normal endothelium in regions of arterial stenosis. The mechanism of this increase is unknown, but this endothelial "turn on" effect may serve to inhibit deposition of platelets and thrombus formation in the presence of disordered flow patterns.

Postendarterectomy platelet deposition and thrombus formation may play an important role not only in vessel wall healing but also in the small incidence of postoperative cerebral ischemia and postoperative stenosis. A study has been performed using a canine model to investigate the healing response to carotid endarterectomy and the validity of an in vivo indium-111 (In-111) radiotracer technique in the assessment of postendarterectomy deposition of autologous labelled platelets. Sixteen endarterectomized carotid arteries showed uptake of autologous In-111 platelets immediately after infusion, reaching a maximum by 1 hour with little increase at 24 or 48 hours. No uptake was seen in ten control vessels following platelet infusion (P less than 0.05). At autopsy, seven vessels were demonstrated to have In-111 platelet deposition immediately prior to sacrifice of the animals. Postmortem scanning confirmed the localization to the vessel lumens, and microscopy revealed thrombus formation with or without partial endothelialization. Complete reendothelialization had occurred in the vessels that failed to show platelet deposition. Delayed healing was associated with continuing platelet deposition, excessive thrombus formation, and luminal stenosis. Arteriotomy closure with a vein patch altered the healing characteristics of the vessel with segmental thrombus formation over the vein patch. A preliminary study of the postendarterectomy in vivo In-111 platelet response in humans demonstrated platelet deposition that was not influenced by the administration of antiplatelet drugs at currently prescribed levels.

The surgical placement of hepatic arterial cannulas, followed by intra-arterial chemotherapy, is a promising technique for the treatment of unresectable hepatic malignancies. Complete perfusion of the liver with drugs is essential, but may be difficult to achieve in some patients with variant arterial anatomy. In 79 patients, we encountered 15 with variant anatomy that precluded standard single or dual cannulation techniques. In 12 patients variant lobar arteries were ligated at surgery. Postoperative transarterial coil occlusion was used in three patients. In each case, the remaining hepatic lobar artery was perfused with a single catheter. Complete bilobar hepatic perfusion was documented by a technetium 99m macroaggregated albumin scan in 13 of 15 (87%) patients. Of patients scanned more than 5 days after occlusion, six of six (100%) had full perfusion of the region supplied by the variant lobar vessels. Postocclusion hepatic arteriography demonstrated translobar collateral vessels that provided perfusion of the region of the occluded variant artery. There was no added morbidity from lobar arterial occlusion and no disparity in tumor response between perfusion by direct cannulation and perfusion by collateral flow. Occlusion of variant hepatic lobar arteries in conjunction with single catheter cannulation to infuse the remaining lobar vessels is a useful technique to provide total hepatic arterial perfusion in patients with variant hepatic arterial anatomy.