Adrenocortical Carcinoma
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Description
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What is cancer of the adrenal cortex?
Cancer of the adrenal cortex, a rare cancer, is a disease in which cancer
(malignant) cells are found in the adrenal cortex, which is the outside layer
of the adrenal gland. Cancer of the adrenal cortex is also called
adrenocortical carcinoma. There are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney
in the back of the upper abdomen. The adrenal glands are also called the
suprarenal glands. The inside layer of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal
medulla. Cancer that starts in the adrenal medulla is called pheochromocytoma
and is discussed in a separate PDQ patient information summary.
The cells in the adrenal cortex make important hormones that help the body work
properly. When cells in the adrenal cortex become cancerous, they may make too
much of one or more hormones, which can cause symptoms such as high blood
pressure, weakening of the bones, or diabetes. If male or female hormones are
affected, the body may go through changes such as a deepening of the voice,
growing hair on the face, swelling of the sex organs, or swelling of the
breasts. Cancers that make hormones are called functioning tumors. Many
cancers of the adrenal cortex do not make extra hormones and are called
nonfunctioning tumors.
A doctor should be seen if the following symptoms appear and won’t go away:
- pain in the abdomen,
- loss of weight without dieting, or
- weakness.
If there is
a functioning tumor, there may be symptoms or signs caused by too many
hormones.
If there are symptoms, a doctor will order blood and urine tests to see whether
the amounts of hormones in the body are normal. A doctor may also order a
computed tomography scan of the abdomen, a special x-ray that uses a computer
to make a picture of the inside of the abdomen. Other special x-rays may also
be done to tell what kind of tumor is present.
The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on how far the cancer has spread
(stage) and on whether a doctor was able to surgically remove all of the
cancer.
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Stage Explanation
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Stages of cancer of the adrenal cortex
Once cancer of the adrenal cortex has been found, more tests will be done to
see how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging. A doctor needs to
know the stage of the cancer to plan treatment. The following stages are
used for cancer of the adrenal cortex:
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Stage I
The cancer is less than 5 centimeters (less than 2 inches) and has not spread
into tissues around the adrenal gland.
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Stage II
The cancer is more than 5 centimeters (greater than 2 inches) and has not
spread into tissues around the adrenal gland.
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Stage III
The cancer has spread into tissues around the adrenal gland or has spread to
the lymph nodes around the adrenal gland. Lymph nodes are part of the lymph
system and are small, bean shaped organs that make and store infection-fighting
cells.
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Stage IV
The cancer has spread to tissues or organs in the area and to lymph nodes
around the adrenal cortex, or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
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Recurrent
The cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come
back in the adrenal cortex or in another part of the body.
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Treatment Option Overview
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How cancer of the adrenal cortex is treated
There are treatments for all patients with cancer of the adrenal cortex. Three
kinds of treatment are used:
A doctor may take out the adrenal gland in an operation called an
adrenalectomy. Tissues around the adrenal glands that contain cancer may be
removed. Lymph nodes in the area may also be removed (lymph node dissection).
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by
pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle.
Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the
bloodstream, travels through the body, and kills cancer cells throughout the
body.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink
tumors. Radiation for cancer of the adrenal cortex usually comes from a
machine outside the body (external radiation therapy).
Besides treatment for cancer (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery),
a patient may also receive therapy to prevent or treat symptoms caused by the
extra hormones that are made by the cancer.
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Treatment by stage
Treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread, and a patient’s age and
overall health.
Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in past
studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all
patients are cured with standard therapy, and some standard treatments may have
more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are
designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most
up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in some parts of the
country for patients with cancer of the adrenal cortex. For more information,
call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237); TTY at
1-800-332-8615.
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Stage I Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Treatment will probably be surgery to remove the cancer.
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Stage II Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Treatment will probably be surgery to remove the cancer. Clinical trials are
testing new treatments.
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Stage III Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Treatment may be one of the following:
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Stage IV Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Treatment may be one of the following:
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Recurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Treatment depends on many factors, including where the cancer came back and
what treatment has already been received. In some cases, surgery can be
effective in decreasing the symptoms of the disease by removing some of the
tumor. Clinical trials are testing new treatments.
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Changes to This Summary (07/21/2005)
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as
new information becomes available. This section describes the latest
changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Editorial changes were made to this summary,and links to the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms were added.
This information is provided from the PDQ® database in collaboration with the NCI.
