Does the adrenal gland need to be removed?
A person can live a normal life with only one adrenal gland. When both adrenal glands are removed, a person can survive; however, simulating the function of the adrenal glands with medication can be problematic. The goal of sparing the adrenal gland is to preserve as much normal adrenal tissue as possible. The adrenal tissue that is conserved may prevent subsequent problems if the opposite adrenal gland needs to be removed. During a traditional radical nephrectomy, everything within Gerota’s fascia is removed, including the adrenal gland. However, recent studies reveal that Clinical Stage T1 or T2 tumors located in the middle or lower part of the kidney, away from the adrenal, rarely involve the adrenal gland.
