[Adrenocortical carcinoma]

Harefuah. 2008 Jun;147(6):520-5, 574.
[Article in Hebrew]

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer with a generally poor prognosis. In approximately 60% of cases the initial clinical manifestations are due to hypersecretion of adrenocortical hormones. Cushing's syndrome is the most frequent hormonal manifestation. In the remainder of the cases the tumor is identified after imaging procedures for nonspecific complaints such as abdominal pain and nausea. Medical therapy is employed in patients with unresectable or partially resected tumor and metastatic disease. The current accepted treatment is a combination of Mitotane with chemotherapy, aimed at controlling hormonal hypersecretion and reduction of tumor mass. In ACC patients there is wide variability in the course of the disease: some with metastatic disease will survive for more than 10 years, others succumb to the disease within months.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / mortality
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / surgery
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cushing Syndrome / etiology
  • Humans
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pain / etiology
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents