Is adrenal gland removal mandatory for an asymptomatic elderly female or can she monitor her condition?

Management of Asymptomatic Adrenal Mass in Elderly Female

Adrenal gland removal is NOT mandatory for an asymptomatic elderly female—monitoring is appropriate for benign non-functional adenomas <4 cm, but the decision depends critically on the mass characteristics, hormonal function, and imaging features. 1

Mandatory Initial Assessment Before Any Decision

Every elderly patient with an adrenal mass requires comprehensive hormonal screening regardless of symptoms, as functional tumors can be life-threatening if unrecognized: 2

• 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test to screen for autonomous cortisol secretion (cortisol >138 nmol/L indicates autonomous secretion, 51-138 nmol/L suggests possible secretion, <50 nmol/L excludes it) 1, 3
• Plasma or 24-hour urinary metanephrines if the mass shows ≥10 HU on non-contrast CT or any signs of catecholamine excess 1
• Aldosterone-to-renin ratio if hypertension or hypokalemia present (ratio >30 indicates hyperaldosteronism) 2
• Dedicated adrenal imaging with unenhanced CT to measure Hounsfield units and assess for malignancy features 3

Absolute Indications for Surgery (NOT Optional)

Surgery is mandatory and monitoring is contraindicated in these scenarios:

• Pheochromocytoma must be resected in all cases to prevent fatal cardiovascular events (requires 1-3 weeks preoperative alpha blockade) 1, 2
• Aldosterone-secreting adenomas require adrenalectomy after confirmation with adrenal vein sampling 1, 2
• Clinically apparent Cushing's syndrome mandates unilateral adrenalectomy 1, 2
• Suspected adrenocortical carcinoma based on imaging features (size >4 cm with heterogeneity, irregular margins, invasion, or necrosis) 1, 2

When Monitoring is Appropriate (Surgery NOT Required)

The following masses can be safely monitored without surgery:

• Benign non-functional adenomas <4 cm with homogeneous appearance and ≤10 HU on unenhanced CT do not require further follow-up imaging or functional testing 1, 3
• Myelolipomas and other small masses containing macroscopic fat detected on initial work-up require no further surveillance 1
• Lesions growing <3 mm/year on follow-up imaging require no further imaging or functional testing 1

Gray Zone Requiring Shared Decision-Making

For non-functional lesions ≥4 cm that are radiologically benign (<10 HU):

• Repeat imaging in 6-12 months is recommended 1, 2
• Adrenalectomy should be considered if growth >5 mm/year after repeating functional work-up 1, 2
• Quality of life and medical comorbidities must be carefully weighed in elderly patients, though age alone is not a contraindication to laparoscopic adrenalectomy 1, 2

For mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) without overt Cushing's syndrome:

• Younger elderly patients with progressive metabolic comorbidities (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, vertebral fractures) attributable to cortisol excess can be considered for adrenalectomy after shared decision-making 1, 2
• Patients not managed surgically should undergo annual clinical screening for new or worsening comorbidities 1
• MACS has low risk of progression to overt Cushing's but contributes to medical comorbidity and increased mortality 1

Special Considerations for Elderly Patients

Quality of life and medical comorbidities are critical considerations in this population: 1, 2

• Goldman class II or greater cardiac risk reliably predicts increased postoperative morbidity and mortality in elderly patients 4
• Operative mortality for benign functional tumors (pheochromocytoma, primary hyperaldosteronism) in elderly patients is acceptably low (0% in one series), but rises to 43% for adrenocortical carcinoma 4
• Laparoscopic approach is preferred when feasible as it reduces complications and promotes faster recovery 2, 5

Critical Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never proceed with any surgery without excluding pheochromocytoma first—undiagnosed pheochromocytoma can cause cardiovascular collapse during surgery 2
• Never perform adrenal biopsy before excluding pheochromocytoma—biopsy of unsuspected pheochromocytoma triggers hypertensive crisis 1, 2
• Adrenal biopsy has limited clinical value and should not be part of initial workup except when metastatic disease from extra-adrenal malignancy would change management 1, 2
• Do not assume asymptomatic means non-functional—comprehensive hormonal screening is mandatory in all cases 2