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Review
. 2020 Feb;36(1):15-19.
doi: 10.1159/000505788. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Adrenal Tumors: Are Gender Aspects Relevant?

Pier Francesco Alesina  1 , Martin K Walz  1
Affiliations
Review

Adrenal Tumors: Are Gender Aspects Relevant?

Pier Francesco Alesina et al. Visc Med. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

The distribution of malignant tumors is strongly related to gender due to sex-related organ and tissue differentiation. Neoplasias of the adrenal glands are relatively common and typically benign. Mainly based on our recently published contributions, we analyzed the influence of gender on type of tumors, complexity of surgery, and long-term outcome. Cortisol-secreting adrenal tumors are more often diagnosed in female patients, while the incidence of Conn's syndrome and pheochromocytoma is similar between male and female patients. Adrenalectomy is more difficult in male patients because of longer operating time and higher blood loss. The probability of cure in male patients with Conn's syndrome is significantly lower. Gender does not influence long-term results in adrenal hypercortisolism and pheochromocytomas.

Keywords: Adrenal tumor; Adrenalectomy; Gender; Gender medicine; Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of primary adrenal tumors (Essen, 1994–2006) [8].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Age and tumor diameter of patients with Conn's syndrome [9]. * Mann-Whitney test was used for the statistical analysis; p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Age and tumor diameter of patients with Cushing's syndrome (non-published data from [10]). * Mann-Whitney test; p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Gender-specific differences in retroperitoneal anatomy: the radiological features typically differ between male and female patients. a, c CT scan of a female patient showing bilateral adrenal tumors, embedded in small amounts of retroperitoneal fatty tissue. The left kidney is without signs of perirenal fibrosis. b, d CT and MRI of male patients with both kidneys surrounded by more fatty tissue and perirenal adhesions (red arrows), which are more typical in males.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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