Surgical adrenal diseases.

There are four adrenal disorders in which surgery is the treatment of choice: pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome due to ACTH-independent adrenal disease (adenoma, carcinoma or autonomous hyperplasia), primary aldosteronism due to an adrenal adenoma and some adrenal non-functional "incidentilomas". In all four categories, the optimal result of surgical intervention depends on the following factors: 1. Definitive diagnosis by accurate biochemical assessment of the functional status of the adrenal lesion.