Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Adrenalectomy for Adenoma in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism and Hypertension

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by hypertension, frequent hypokalaemia, and an inappropriately high aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR). Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA or Conn syndrome) is one of the main causes of primary aldosteronism. Laparoscopic (LA) total-adrenalectomy or adenoma selective is an option to normalize or at least improve blood pressure (BP) control, hypokalaemia, and normalize the ARR. However, the reported result of surgery is around 50% of clinical cure rate with an overall complication rate of 5 to 14% whereas hormonal success reached around 95%.

More recently, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used for patients with primary aldosteronism and unilateral adenoma.

Investigator Team assume that treatment of unilateral PA by RFA could achieve similar efficacy to treatment by LA, with potentially less adverse events, and could be a more cost-efficient procedure.