@lisanewell68 I to have a pheochromocytoma and have been battling since 2015 trying to get answers and solutions. Here is what I have learned. The best adrenal operation for roughly 95% of pheochromocytomas (and thus, likely your pheochromocytoma) is the posterior retroperitoneal adrenalectomy, or more simply put, the Mini-Back Scope Adrenalectomy (MBSA). There are several factors that an expert adrenal surgeon will consider in determining which is the best adrenal operation for your pheochromocytoma:
The size of the tumor (as measured on preoperative X-ray: oftentimes a CT scan, MRI, or specialized nuclear medicine scan)
The type of adrenal tumor (Is it very large? Is it producing too much hormone? Does it look cancerous, or has a known cancer elsewhere in the body spread to the adrenal gland?)
The appearance of the tumor on preoperative X-ray (Is the tumor involving surrounding structures, such as organs or vessels?)
A history of previous abdominal operations
The surgeon's experience with the different adrenal operations. In the rare (5%) instance that the pheochromocytoma is cancerous or extremely large, typically 8-10 cm or greater, one of the other adrenal operations mentioned is likely a better option. However, if your surgeon is not at least discussing the BEST adrenal operation with you (MBSA), then you may want to consult with a different surgeon. Adrenal surgery is almost NEVER an emergency. The tumor that needs to be removed has typically been present for at least 4-5 years, so you have time to seek an expert surgical opinion.
Prayers of comfort!
Dawn