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What You Need for Your First Visit
THE ADRENAL CENTER CARE TEAM
After you have made an appointment, please have the following
items delivered to our office at least one week prior to your
visit, so that we may begin to organize a tailored care plan for you.
William B. Inabnet, MD Alice C. Levine, MD
Co-Director
Co-Director
PRIMARY SERVICES
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THE MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
ADRENAL CENTER
Imaging Studies (Reports and Films)
Your Medical Records
Relevant blood work pertaining to your adrenal gland
List of current medications and allergies to medications
Any other pertinent information regarding your condition.
Cardiology and Hypertension
Lawrence Krakoff, MD
Endocrinology
Alice C. Levine, MD
Endocrine Surgery
William B. Inabnet, MD
Kaare J. Weber, MD
ASSOCIATED SERVICES AND PROVIDERS
Cardiology and Vascular Disease
Jeffery W. Olin, MD
Adrenal Selective Venous Sampling
Ageliki Vouyouka, MD
Joshua L. Weintraub, MD
Visiting Our Office
The Mount Sinai Adrenal Center is located at 17 East 102nd Street
on the 5th Floor. Should you have any questions or concerns,
please feel free to contact us at (212) 824-2350
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A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CARING FOR
DISORDERS OF THE ADRENAL GLAND
By Subway: Take the 6 train to
the 96th Street station or the
103rd Street Station. Walk East
toward 5th Ave.
By Bus: The M1, M2, M3, M96
and M 106 stop nearby our office.
Neurosurgery and Pituitary-Based Disease
Eliza Geer, MD
Kalmon D. Post, MD,
Anesthesia
Andrew B. Leibowitz, MD
Ian H. Sampson, MD
17 EAST 102ND STREET, 5TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10029
Adrenal Pathology
Pam Unger, MD
Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Lale Kostakoglu, MD
Eric J. Wilck, MD
PRACTICE TELEPHONE: (212) 824-2350
(212) 202-4713
PRACTICE FAX:
The Adrenal Center
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
17 East 102nd Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10029
A BOUT THE A DRENAL C ENTER
A T THE MOUNT S INAI MEDICAL CENTER
Mount Sinai Medical Center has a rich history of caring
for patients with adrenal disorders. Because of their
complex nature, adrenal disorders require a host of
disciplines to maximize the care of the patient. The
Adrenal Center at Mount Sinai brings all of these experts
together as one multidisciplinary team to focus on all
aspects of care for patients with adrenal disorders.
We provide a team approach including Endocrinologists,
Endocrine Surgeons, Cardiologists, Radiologists,
Interventional Radiologists, Neurosurgeons, Nuclear
Medicine Physicians, Anesthesiologists and Geneticists
to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for
these complex diseases.
Our surgeons offer innovative minimally invasive
approaches to adrenal surgery including both
laparoscopic transabdominal and retroperitoneal
approaches to adrenalectomy, single incision laparoscopic
adrenalectomy, adrenal sparing surgery, and adrenal
autotransplantation.
All of these procedures are performed in our state of the
art minimally invasive operating suites at the Mount Sinai
Hospital affording patients improved cosmetic results,
shorter hospitalization and quicker recovery.
A DRENAL G LANDS
There are two adrenal glands, each sitting on top of the
kidneys. They produce a host of hormones, including
cortisol, aldosterone, and the sex steroids estrogen and
testosterone. Cortisol helps the body to respond to
stress while aldosterone controls the balance of
electrolytes including sodium and potassium in the body.
The adrenal glands also produce catecholamines called
epinephrine and norepinephrine. Together these
hormones contribute to the “flight or fight” response to
rigorous activity and stress. These glands are redundant
organs such that the removal of one gland does not
interfere with normal production and function of
hormones from the remaining gland.
D ISORDERS
OF THE
A DRENAL G LAND
Disorders of the adrenal gland are often the result of over
production of the various hormones described above.
Medications can sometimes control the excess hormone
release, but most often surgery is the only cure.
PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA
These tumors produce too much catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine )resulting in dangerously high
blood pressure which can often lead to stroke, heart attacks, and even death if left untreated. Removal of these
tumors can be life saving and prevent devastating complications. Diagnosis can be challenging but patients often present with flushing, palpitations, and high blood pressure.
These tumors can have malignant potential and patients
require life long monitoring once diagnosed and treated.
ALDOSTERONOMA
These tumors produce too much aldosterone, often
resulting in high blood pressure. Patients are usually on
several medications with increasing doses to control their
blood pressure. Patients are frequently found to have low
potassium because aldosterone directly effects our salt and
water balance. As a result, patients can complain of muscle
cramps and weakness. These tumors are benign and their
removal can result in a significant improvement in blood
pressure control . These tumors can be small and often
adrenal venous sampling is required to help determine the
side of the aldosteronoma.
CUSHING’S DISEASE AND SYNDROME
Cushing’s syndrome is an over production of cortisol, the
body’s primary intrinsic steroid. This can result in a host
of problems. Prolong exposure to cortisol can result in
weight gain, acne, thinning hair, and easy bruising. Patients
can even suffer from diabetes, brittle bones, and an
increased susceptibility to infection. Over production of
cortisol can be associated with both benign and malignant
conditions of the adrenal gland.
ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMA
Patients are often found to have incidental growths on their
adrenal glands from imaging studies done for other reasons.
These incidental growths are most often found on CT and
MRI. The majority of these growths have no clinical
significance and are truly incidental. However, it is
important that both overproduction of hormones and the
possibility of malignancy are excluded. Surgery is only
performed if they are found to be producing excess hormone or if they reach a certain size, often 4cm or greater.
ADRENAL CANCER
Cancer of the adrenal gland is uncommon. They can
produce a variety of hormones and often result in the rapid
onset of symptoms. Surgery is often the only option for
treatment and possible cure. These tumors can be large at
the time of diagnosis and require open surgery for removal.
SURGERY
Most adrenal tumors can be removed using minimally
invasive techniques. We offer a wide variety of approaches
which are tailored to the individual needs of the patient in
order maximize patient outcomes. These techniques
include:
 Laparoscopic transabdominal approach where small
incisions are made in the abdomen to access the adrenal
glands.
 Laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach where small
incisions are made on the back to gain access to the
adrenals
 Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) where a single
incision is made at the belly button to perform the surgery
The hormones produced by the adrenal gland are essential
to normal function, but because the adrenal glands are
redundant organs, patients can function with one gland.
However, some conditions may require removal of both
glands. We offer adrenal sparing surgery to patients who
require removal of both glands. For patients who do not
meet criteria for adrenal sparing surgery, we offer adrenal
autotransplantation in the hopes of avoiding life long
medication.