Long-term survival following adrenalectomy for secondary adrenal tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Secondary adrenal tumors (SATs) are uncommon, and the benefits of adrenalectomy for SATs have not been well-established. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the survival benefits of adrenalectomy for SATs. Method: ology: A systematic literature search was performed (1990-2022). The inclusion criteria included a known primary tumor with confirmed adrenal metastasis in patients who underwent adrenalectomy. The primary outcome was the overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 26 studies were included, with 2279 patients. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 61.1 years. Lung cancer was the most common primary tumor. The average time from primary tumor diagnosis to identification of adrenal metastasis was 17 months. The median OS was 35.2 months. One, three, and five-year OS were 79.7 %, 49.1 %, and 37.9 %, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this review provide insight into the long-term survival of patients with SATs who underwent adrenalectomy. The study highlights the need for further research to identify the risk factors that play a role in the outcome of adrenalectomy in patients with SATs.