Adrenal gland tumors are rare. Solid adrenal lesions of more than 5 or 6 cm should be considered malignant until proved otherwise by exploration and adrenalectomy. The incidence of adrenocortical carcinomas is estimated as two per million
population per
year. Fifty percent of malignant adrenocortical tumors, are nonfunctional Patient with nonfunctioning tumors may have no definable symptoms until the tumor is large enough to cause local pressure symptoms or readily to palpable.
The indications for surgery in nonfunctioning adrenal gland tumors are a diameter greater than 6cm, growth of the smaller tumors during a period of observations, or questions of functional status, In addition, the use of pharmacologic agent to
counter
the deleterious effects of hormonal excess, preoperatively, has made formerly hazardous procedures be safe and almost routine today.
The authors experienced two cases of nonfunctioning adrenal gland tumors, one was cortical carcinoma, the other, cortical adenoma. As transabdominal approach, the mass was excised block. Postoperative complication had not occurred. Prognosis may
be
excellent in cortical adenoma, but periodic follow-up is required for cortical carcinoma.
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