Introduction:

Primary aldosteronism is commonly caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma. It should be suspected in patients with hypertension associated with intermittent or permanent hypokalemia.

Clinical case:

52-year-old woman diagnosed with right aldosteronoma, treated by laparoscopy, presented with arterial hypertension of 10 years of evolution, muscular weakness and persistent hypokalemia. Computed tomography showed a tumor in the right adrenal gland, an aldosterone of 483 pg/ml (normal: <200 pg/ml), a renin-aldosterone ratio of 966 and a serum potassium of 2.21 mmol/l. A laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed without complications with a surgical time of 127 minutes, bleeding of 50 ml, hospital stay of 4 days, normalization of blood pressure and elevated serum potassium levels.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy continues to be the route of choice for treatment in patients with tumors smaller than 8 cm, those greater than 6-8 cm have a higher risk of malignancy. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment minimize the progression of vascular damage mediated by hypertension.

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