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Adrenal cancer is the presence of malignant adrenal tumors, and includes neuroblastoma, adrenocortical carcinoma and some adrenal pheochromocytomas. Most adrenal pheochromocytomas and all adrenocortical adenomas are benign tumors, which do not metastasize or invade nearby tissues, but may cause significant health problems by unbalancing hormones.
An adrenocortical adenoma or adrenal adenoma is commonly described as a benign neoplasm emerging from the cells that comprise the adrenal cortex. Like most adenomas , the adrenocortical adenoma is considered a benign tumor since the majority of them are non-functioning and asymptomatic .
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive cancer originating in the cortex (steroid hormone-producing tissue) of the adrenal gland.. Adrenocortical carcinoma is remarkable for the many hormonal syndromes that can occur in patients with steroid hormone-producing ("functional") tumors, including Cushing's syndrome, Conn syndrome, virilization, and feminization.
These hormone-producing tumors may need adrenalectomy. Additionally, adrenal tumors that are larger than 4 centimeters in size, regardless of whether they produce hormones, also require adrenalectomy due to increased risk of adrenal cancer. Rarely (5–12%), the adrenal tumor may be cancerous (adrenocortical carcinoma), requiring adrenalectomy.
Without thyroidectomy, almost all patients with MEN2B develop medullary thyroid cancer, in a more aggressive form than MEN 2A. [13] [19] The ideal age for surgery is 4 years old or younger, since cancer may metastasize before age 10. [14] Pheochromocytoma - a hormone secreting tumor of the adrenal glands - is also present in 50% of cases. [14]
Enlargement of both adrenal glands, adrenal adenoma, adrenal cancer, familial hyperaldosteronism [6] [1] Diagnostic method: Blood test for aldosterone-to-renin ratio [1] Treatment: Surgery, spironolactone, eplerenone, low salt diet [1] Frequency: 10% of people with high blood pressure [1]
Adrenal cancer most often affects adults in their 40s and 50s and children younger than 5, but it can occur at any time. "When adrenal cancer is found early, there is a chance for cure.
Diagnosis of PPNAD can be difficult to determine preoperatively as CT scan findings can be variable i.e. appear normal or suggest unilateral adrenal lesions therefore impeding the correct diagnosis. NP-59 scintigraphy may be particularly useful in identifying the bilateral nature of the disease.