Between 1980 and 1990, 135 patients underwent nephrectomy in our Department for renal cell carcinoma. Two groups were identified: Group 1 (72 patients) had the adrenal gland removed; group 2 (63 patients) did not undergo removal of the gland. In group 1 only one patient had ipsilateral adrenal gland neoplastic involvement. This patient also had hepatic metastasis and died 4 months after surgery. Differences in the time of survival after surgery were not statistically significant between groups. In the light of present findings and on the basis of data reported in literature, the problem of systematic adrenalectomy as part of radical nephrectomy is discussed.
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