Open AccessArticle
Perioperative Risks and Long-Term Outcomes of Bilateral Adrenalectomy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study Across Cushing’s Syndrome and Non-Cushing Etiologies
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Gökçen Güngör Semiz
1,Nusret Yılmaz
2,Mustafa Aydemir
2
,Özlem Soyluk Selçukbiricik
3
,Banu Şarer Yürekli
4,Hatice Özışık
4,Süheyla Görar
5,Güzin Fidan Yaylalı
6,Eda Ertörer
7,Hatice Öner
8,Selin Genç
9,Mehmet Emin Arayici
10
,Şeyhmus Abakay
1,*,Mehmet Çağrı Ünal
1,Abdurrahman Çömlekçi
1,Serkan Yener
1 andTevfik Demir
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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07070, Turkey
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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, Istanbul 34093, Turkey
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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Turkey
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Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya 07100, Turkey
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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli 20070, Turkey
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Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Adana Hospital, Başkent University School of Medicine, Adana 01120, Turkey
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Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34899, Turkey
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Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya 44280, Turkey
10
Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicina 2026, 62(7), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62071373 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 22 May 2026 / Revised: 4 July 2026 / Accepted: 8 July 2026 / Published: 17 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Endocrinology)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Bilateral adrenalectomy (BADx) is a definitive treatment for diverse adrenal disorders, though data across etiologies remain limited. This multicenter study evaluated perioperative risks, long-term survival, and shifts in comorbidities in patients undergoing BADx for Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and non-CS indications. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 adult patients (CS, n = 52; non-CS, n = 51) from 9 tertiary centers. Primary outcomes included early (≤30 days) and late mortality, complications (adrenal crisis, Nelson’s syndrome), and changes in comorbidity profiles. Results: The cohort (mean age 50.59 ± 13.82 years) had a median follow-up of 96 months. Early mortality occurred exclusively in CS patients (5.8%), while late mortality was comparable between groups. Overall 5-year survival rates were 83.3% for CS and 89.9% for non-CS (p = 0.360), with no significant differences across CS etiologies (p = 0.760). Adrenal crisis was significantly more frequent in CS (23% vs. 7%, p = 0.023). Nelson’s syndrome developed in 28% of Cushing’s disease patients. Postoperatively, both cohorts showed increased reliance on psychiatric and cardiovascular medications. Notably, osteoporosis rates were significantly higher than preoperative levels exclusively in the non-CS group (p = 0.006), highlighting the impact of long-term glucocorticoid replacement in this cohort. Two patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia demonstrated remarkable long-term survival (8 and 30 years) across different surgical timings. Conclusions: BADx delivers rapid systemic remission and definitive control across a range of adrenal pathologies. However, the primary cause and the timing of surgery significantly impact the clinical course and the risk of complications. The resulting state of irreversible adrenal insufficiency requires comprehensive, lifelong surveillance and tailored hormone replacement.