OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic methods of adrenal incidentalomas.

METHODSThe data of 156 cases were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe operation were performed in 151 cases, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 1 case and follow up in 4 cases. The diameter of the tumors were 1.3-15.0 cm. Pathological results indicated that 34 cases were pheochromocytoma, 83 adrenal cortical adenoma, 5 adrenal cortical carcinoma, 3 metastases carcinoma, and 26 other benign tumors. One hundred and thirty-six cases were followed-up for 1-7 years. 3 cases of metastases carcinoma died in 1.5 years, 2 cases of cortical carcinoma died in 2.0 and 2.5 years for recurrence and metastases. One hundred and thirty-one cases survived healthy, 3 cases of them take orally dexamethasone for 1 year after post-operation.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical operations should be performed in malignant tumors, hypersecretion tumors, deuto-clinical adrenal cortical tumors, pheochromocytoma and those whose diameters of tumors are over 3 cm. But those whose tumors had non-hypersecretion and diameters are less than 3 cm should be followed up closely.