Adrenal carcinoma (patient information): Difference between revisions

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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Adrenal carcinoma|here]]'''
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Adrenal carcinoma|here]]'''


{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{AN}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{S.M.}} {{AN}}
==Overview==
==Overview==
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a cancer of the [[adrenal glands]].
[[Adrenocortical carcinoma]] is a [[cancer]] of the [[adrenal glands]].


==What are the symptoms of Adrenal carcinoma?==
==What are the symptoms of Adrenal carcinoma?==
Symptoms that suggest increased cortisol or other adrenal gland hormone production:
Fatty, rounded hump high on the back just below the neck (buffalo hump)
Flushed rounded face with pudgy cheeks (moon face)
Obesity
Stunted growth in height (short stature)
Virilization - the appearance of male characteristics, including increased body hair (especially on the face), pubic hair, acne, deepening of voice, and enlarged clitoris (girls)


Symptoms that suggest increased aldosterone production are the same as symptoms of low potassium and include:
* [[Symptoms]] that [[Suggestion|suggest]] increased [[cortisol]] or other [[adrenal gland]] [[hormone]] [[Product (biology)|production]]:
** [[Fat|Fatty]], rounded [[Buffalo hump|hump]] high on the [[back]] just below the [[neck]] ([[buffalo hump]])
** [[Flushing|Flushed]] rounded [[face]] with pudgy [[cheeks]] ([[moon face]])
** [[Obesity]]
** [[Stunted growth]] in [[Human height|height]] ([[short stature]])
** [[Virilization]] - the [[appearance]] of [[male]] [[Characteristic function (probability theory)|characteristics]], including increased [[body hair]] (especially on the [[face]]), [[pubic hair]], [[acne]], deepening of [[Human voice|voice]], and [[Clitoris enlargement|enlarged clitoris]] (girls)


Increased thirst
* [[Symptoms]] that [[Suggestion|suggest]] increased [[aldosterone]] [[Product (biology)|production]] are the same as [[symptoms]] of low [[potassium]] and include:
Muscle cramps
 
Urination
** Increased [[thirst]]
Weakness
** [[Muscle cramps]]
** [[Urination]]
** [[Weakness]]


==What causes Adrenal carcinoma?==
==What causes Adrenal carcinoma?==
Adrenocortical carcinoma is most common in children younger than 5 and adults in their 30s and 40s.
Adrenocortical carcinoma may be linked to a cancer syndrome that is passed down through families (inherited). Both men and women can develop this tumor.
Adrenocortical carcinoma can produce the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen, or testosterone, as well as other hormones. In women the tumor often releases these hormones, which can lead to male characteristics.


The cause is unknown. About 2 people per million develop this type of tumor.
* [[Adrenocortical carcinoma]] is most common in [[children]] younger than 5 and [[Adult|adults]] in their 30s and 40s.
* [[Adrenocortical carcinoma]] may be [[Link|linked]] to a [[cancer]] [[syndrome]] that is [[Passing (sociology)|passed]] down through [[Family|families]] ([[inherited]]).
* Both [[men]] and [[Womens Pack|women]] can [[Development|develop]] this [[tumor]].
* [[Adrenocortical carcinoma]] can [[Product (biology)|produce]] the [[hormones]] [[cortisol]], [[aldosterone]], [[estrogen]], or [[testosterone]], as well as other [[hormones]].
* In [[Womens Pack|women]], the [[tumor]] often [[Release (information centre)|releases]] these [[hormones]], which can [[lead]] to [[male]] [[Characteristic function (probability theory)|characteristics]].
* The [[Causes|cause]] is unknown.
* About 2 people per million [[Development|develop]] this type of [[tumor]].


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
A physical exam may reveal high blood pressure and changes in body shape, such as breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia) or male characteristics in women (virilization). Blood tests will be done to check hormone levels:
ACTH level will be low.
Aldosterone level will be high.
Cortisol level will be high.
Potassium level will be low.


Imaging tests may include:
* A [[Physical examination|physical exam]] may reveal:
** [[High blood pressure]]
** Changes in [[Human body|body]] [[Shape parameter|shape]], such as [[breast enlargement]] in [[men]] ([[gynecomastia]]) or [[male]] [[Characteristic function (probability theory)|characteristics]] in [[Womens Pack|women]] ([[virilization]])
* [[Blood tests]] will be [[done]] to [[check]] [[hormone]] levels:
** [[ACTH]] level will be low
** [[Aldosterone]] level will be high
** [[Cortisol]] level will be high
** [[Potassium]] level will be low


Abdominal x-ray
* [[Imaging studies|Imaging tests]] may include:
CT scan of the abdomen
** [[Abdominal x-ray]]
MRI of the abdomen
** [[CT scan]] of the [[abdomen]]
** [[MRI]] of the [[abdomen]]


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma, Cushing syndrome, or failure to grow.
 
* [[Call for help|Call]] your [[health care provider]] if you or your [[child]] has [[symptoms]] of [[adrenocortical carcinoma]], [[Cushing's syndrome|Cushing syndrome]], or [[failure]] to [[Growth|grow]].


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
Primary treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Adrenocortical carcinoma may not improve with chemotherapy. Medications may be given to reduce production of cortisol, which causes many of the symptoms.
 
* Primary [[Treatments|treatment]] is [[surgery]] to remove the [[tumor]].
* [[Adrenocortical carcinoma]] may not improve with [[chemotherapy]].
* [[Medications]] may be given to reduce [[Product (biology)|production]] of [[cortisol]], which [[causes]] many of the [[symptoms]].


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
The outcome depends on how early the diagnosis is made and whether the tumor has spread (metastasized). Tumors that have spread usually lead to death within 1 to 3 years.
 
* The [[outcome]] [[Dependent variable|depends]] on how early the [[diagnosis]] is made and whether the [[tumor]] has [[Spread of the cancer|spread]] ([[metastasized]]).
* [[Tumors]] that have [[Spread of the cancer|spread]] usually [[lead]] to [[Death cap|death]] within 1 to 3 [[Year|years]].


==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
The tumor can spread to the liver, bone, lung, or other areas.
 
* The [[tumor]] can [[Spread of the cancer|spread]] to the [[liver]], [[bone]], [[lung]], or other [[Area|areas]].


==Sources==
==Sources==
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[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Endocrinology]]
[[Category:Surgery]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 15 August 2019

Adrenal carcinoma

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Adrenal carcinoma?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Adrenal carcinoma On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Adrenal carcinoma

Videos on Adrenal carcinoma

FDA on Adrenal carcinoma

CDC on Adrenal carcinoma

Adrenal carcinoma in the news

Blogs on Adrenal carcinoma

Directions to Hospitals Treating Adrenal carcinoma

Risk calculators and risk factors for Adrenal carcinoma

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mohsin, M.D.[2] Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [3]

Overview

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a cancer of the adrenal glands.

What are the symptoms of Adrenal carcinoma?

What causes Adrenal carcinoma?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Sources

Template:WH Template:WS