Nodes of Contention: The Role of Lymphadenectomy in Adrenocortical Cancer Management

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive endocrine malignancy with poor survival outcomes and high recurrence rates. Whilst surgical resection is the cornerstone of curative treatment, the role of lymphadenectomy remains debated. “Nodes of contention” in ACC management center on balancing accurate staging and potential oncologic benefit against added operative time, complexity, and morbidity. We reviewed the available published literature over the last 20 years, including retrospective series, to evaluate the prognostic and therapeutic significance of lymphadenectomy in ACC. Though systematic lymph node dissection improves staging accuracy and may identify patients at higher risk who could benefit from adjuvant therapy, evidence demonstrating a survival benefit is inconsistent. This is largely due to the rarity of the condition, heterogeneity in surgical approaches, and lack of standardized nodal templates. Concerns regarding increased operative morbidity further limit widespread adoption. This review synthesizes current evidence on nodal assessment in ACC and highlights gaps in prospective data. While nodal involvement is a strong prognostic factor, the therapeutic impact of lymphadenectomy remains unclear. Prospective, multicenter trials are urgently needed to define its role in ACC management.