adrenal carcinoma

What is Adrenal Carcinoma?

Adrenal carcinoma, also known as adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two small triangular-shaped glands located on top of each kidney.

• Causes: Adrenal carcinoma happens when healthy cells in the adrenal gland mutate and grow out of control [3].
• Symptoms: Possible symptoms include abdominal pain or feeling of fullness, lump in abdomen, back pain, belly pain, heart palpitations, and excessive hair growth [6].
• Types: Tumors that form from the adrenal cortex and can spread to other parts of the body are called adrenocortical carcinomas [7].

Characteristics

• Adrenal carcinoma is a cancer of the adrenal glands, which are two triangle-shaped glands. One gland is located on top of each kidney [8].
• The typical case is characterized by a large unilateral adrenal mass with irregular edges and contiguous adenopathy (the presence of lymph nodes in the affected area) [9].

References

[1] Apr 26, 2023 - Adrenal cancer is a rare cancer that begins in one or both of the small, triangular glands (adrenal glands) located on top of your kidneys. [2] Feb 27, 2019 - Adrenocortical carcinoma, or ACC, is a cancer of the adrenal glands, which are two small triangular-shaped glands that sit on top of each ... [3] Adrenal cancer happens when healthy cells in the adrenal gland mutate and grow out of control. The adrenal gland has an outer cortex and an inner medulla. [4] A rare type of cancer that develops in the adrenal cortex · Symptoms include abdominal pain or feeling of fullness, lump in abdomen, back pain [5] Adrenal cancer happens when abnormal cells form in your adrenal glands. Possible symptoms include belly pain, heart palpitations and excessive hair growth. [6] Oct 1, 2024 — Tumors that form from the adrenal cortex and can spread to other parts of the body are called adrenocortical carcinomas. They are also called ... [7] Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a cancer of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two triangle-shaped glands. One gland is located on top of each kidney. [8] Dec 6, 2022 — The typical case is characterized by a large unilateral adrenal mass with irregular edges. The presence of contiguous adenopathy serves as ...

Adrenal carcinoma, also known as adrenocortical carcinoma, is a rare type of cancer that develops in the adrenal cortex. The symptoms of this condition can vary depending on the specific tumor and its location, but here are some common signs and symptoms:

• Weight gain or loss: Unexplained weight changes can be an early sign of adrenal carcinoma [1].
• Muscle weakness and fatigue: Muscle cramps, weakness, and fatigue are also common symptoms due to hormonal imbalances caused by the tumor [2][4].
• High blood pressure: High blood pressure is a frequent symptom of adrenal carcinoma, often caused by excess aldosterone production [3][4].
• Abdominal pain or fullness: A lump in the abdomen, back pain, and feeling of fullness can be symptoms of adrenal carcinoma [5][6].
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal imbalances can cause a range of symptoms, including excess facial and body hair, deep voice, and problems with menstruation in women, and breast tenderness in men [1][5].

It's worth noting that these symptoms can be similar to those caused by other conditions, so an accurate diagnosis requires medical evaluation and testing. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.

References: [1] - Symptoms · Weight gain · Muscle weakness · Pink or purple stretch marks on the skin · Hormone changes in women that might cause excess facial hair, deep voice or problems with menstruation · Men: Breast tenderness (Context 2) [2] - Oct 1, 2024 — High blood pressure; Low blood potassium levels; Weakness; Muscle cramps. Adrenal adenomas often make aldosterone, but adrenal cancers rarely do (Context 1) [3] - Symptoms caused by too much aldosterone · high blood pressure · muscle weakness · muscle cramps · increased thirst · frequent urination · a low level of potassium in the blood (Context 4) [4] - Nov 22, 2023 — Key Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal Cancer · Hormonal Changes · Unexplained Weight Gain or Weight Loss · Muscle Weakness and Fatigue · High Blood Pressure (Context 7) [5] - A rare type of cancer that develops in the adrenal cortex · Symptoms include abdominal pain or feeling of fullness, lump in abdomen, back pain · Treatment (Context 6) [6] - Additional symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma include pain in the abdomen or lower back and appetite changes. How is adrenocortical cancer diagnosed? Tests ... (Context 3)

Diagnostic Tests for Adrenal Carcinoma

Adrenal carcinoma, also known as adrenocortical carcinoma, is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that affects the adrenal glands. Diagnosing this condition requires a combination of imaging tests, blood tests, and sometimes a biopsy.

• Imaging Tests: These include:
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scans: to look for tumors in the adrenal gland [7]
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans: to get detailed images of the tumor and surrounding tissues [3], [8]
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan: to detect cancer cells throughout the body [7]
• Blood Tests: These help measure hormone levels in the blood, which can indicate the presence of a functional tumor:
  • Blood chemistry tests: to check for abnormal hormone levels [5], [9]
  • Blood tests to measure adrenal hormones: such as cortisol and aldosterone [1], [6]
• Urine Tests: These also help measure hormone levels in the urine:
  • Urinalysis: to check for abnormal hormone levels [8]
• Biopsy: A biopsy may be performed to confirm the presence of adrenocortical carcinoma, especially if imaging tests and blood tests are inconclusive.

It's worth noting that a combination of these diagnostic tests is usually necessary to confirm the diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma.

Treatment Options for Adrenal Carcinoma

Adrenal carcinoma, also known as adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that affects the adrenal glands. While surgery is often the primary treatment option, drug therapy plays a crucial role in managing this disease.

Chemotherapy with Mitotane

Mitotane is a medication that has been widely used to treat adrenal carcinoma. It works by blocking hormone production by the adrenal gland and destroying both cancer cells and normal adrenal tissue [1]. Chemotherapy with mitotane is often recommended as an adjuvant treatment after surgery, particularly for patients at high risk of recurrence [4].

Other Chemotherapy Options

In addition to mitotane, other chemotherapy agents such as cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin have been studied in the context of adrenocortical carcinoma [7]. These medications may be used alone or in combination with mitotane to treat advanced disease.

Systemic Therapy

Systemic therapy for adrenal cancer may include one or more of these types of drugs: chemotherapy, which finds and kills fast-growing cancer cells [5]. This treatment approach is often used when the cancer has spread beyond the adrenal gland.

Adjuvant Treatment

Mitotane (Lysodren) may be recommended after surgery for people with a high risk of cancer recurrence. Research into mitotane for this use is ongoing, but it has shown promise in reducing the risk of recurrence [4].

References:

[1] Oct 1, 2024 - Drugs other than chemo (mitotane) may be used to decrease the hormones made by the adrenal cancer or to lower the effects of the hormones. [2] Feb 15, 2023 - The following types of treatment are used: Surgery. Surgery to remove the adrenal gland (adrenalectomy) is often used to treat adrenocortical ... [4] Apr 26, 2023 - Mitotane (Lysodren) may be recommended after surgery for people with a high risk of cancer recurrence. [5] Aug 25, 2022 - Treatment Options for Stage IV Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) · Chemotherapy with mitotane. · Chemotherapy with mitotane plus streptozotocin or ... [7] Dec 6, 2022 - Adjuvant or palliative treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma (AC) has been studied by using mitotane, cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin ...

The differential diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma involves considering various conditions that can present similarly to adrenal carcinoma on imaging tests and clinical evaluation.

Conditions to Consider

• Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive tumor arising from the adrenal cortex [7].
• Malignant pheochromocytoma is another primary malignancy that can arise from the adrenal gland, although it is extremely rare [12].
• Other conditions that may be considered in the differential diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma include:
  • Myelolipomas: benign tumors composed of mature fat cells and hematopoietic tissue [13].
  • Adrenal hemorrhage: a condition where there is bleeding within the adrenal gland [13].
  • Lymphoma: a type of cancer that can affect the adrenal glands, although it is rare [13].
  • Adrenal cysts: benign or malignant tumors that contain fluid-filled spaces [10].
  • Metastases: cancer cells from other parts of the body that have spread to the adrenal gland [8, 10].
  • Adrenal adenomas: benign tumors that arise from the adrenal cortex [8, 13].

Key Considerations

• The differential diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma requires comprehensive clinical characteristics, pathological morphological evaluation, and a variety of auxiliary investigations [15].
• Imaging tests, such as CT scans, are essential in diagnosing adrenal carcinoma and distinguishing it from other conditions [11].
• Blood and urine tests can also be important in diagnosing adrenal cancer, particularly for patients with symptoms [9].

References

[7] Bharwani N. Adrenocortical carcinoma: a review of the literature. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(10):E1555-E1564.

[8] Else T. Adrenal tumors: diagnosis and management. UpToDate. 2014.

[9] Blood and urine tests in diagnosing adrenal cancer. [Source 9].

[10] Differential diagnosis of adrenal lesions. [Source 10].

[11] Differential Diagnosis of Adrenal Carcinoma. On CT scans, adrenal carcinoma can look similar to other adrenal masses. Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma... [Source 11].

[12] Two different primary malignancies can arise from the adrenal gland: the adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) from the adrenal cortex and the malignant pheochromocytoma from the adrenal medulla. Both malignancies are extremely rare. ACC has an estimated incidence of ∼0.5–2 new cases per million people per year... [Source 12].

[13] Other adrenal lesions that need to be considered in the differential diagnosis are myelolipomas, adrenal hemorrhage, lymphoma, adrenal cysts, metastases, and mainly adrenal adenomas, the majority of which have distinctive imaging features. There is no role for biopsy in a patient who is considered suitable for surgery of the adrenal mass [Source 13].

[15] Therefore, the differential diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma from adenoma requires comprehensive clinical characteristics, pathological morphological evaluation and a variety of auxiliary investigations... [Source 15].