When cancer of the adrenal cortex is diagnosed more tests done to see how far the cancer has spread, a process called staging.
Treatment varies depending on which stage of the disease. The following stages are used for cancer of the adrenal cortex:
Phase I - cancer is less than 5 cm (less than 2 inches) wide and has not spread in the tissue around the adrenal. During this phase, the primary treatment is likely to have an operation for cancer.
Phase II - cancer is more than 5 cm (less than 2 inches) wide and has not spread in the tissue around the adrenal. During this phase, the primary treatment is likely to have an operation for cancer, but clinical studies are now underway to test new therapies for this stage of the disease.
Phase III - cancer of the tissues around the adrenal gland or has spread to the lymph nodes around the adrenal. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system disorders, and are small, bean-shaped organs and store infection fighting cells. During this phase can be any of the following:
Surgery for cancer. Lymph nodes in space can also be removed (lymph node dissection).
A clinical trial of radiotherapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy if the size of the tumor can be measured by X-ray and / or if the tumor makes hormones.
Phase IV - the cancer has spread to tissues or organs in the area and the lymph nodes around the adrenal cortex, or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. During this phase can be any of the following:
A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
Radiation to the bone when the cancer has spread.
Surgery for cancer in places where it has spread.
Periodic - The cancer is back (again) after it has been processed. It may come back in the adrenal cortex or in another part of the body. Treatment during this phase depends on several factors, including where the cancer came back and what treatment is received. In some cases, surgery may be effective in reducing symptoms of the disease by removing a part of the tumor. The clinical trials are currently testing new treatments for this phase of the disease.
There are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. Each adrenal gland consists of two layers:
The adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal, various steroid hormones;
The adrenal PITH or inner layer of the adrenal gland that produces hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Cancer of the adrenal cortex, also called adrenocortical carcinoma, is discussed below. (Cancer of the adrenal PITH, also called pheochromocytoma is discussed separately.)
The cells in the adrenal cortex of important hormones that help the body to function properly. When cells in the adrenal cortex become cancerous, they may make too much of one or more hormones, which can lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, weakening of the bones, or diabetes. Cancers that hormones are called functioning tumors. However, many cancers of the adrenal cortex hormones and no additional nonfunctioning tumors.
A person with the following symptoms you should seek medical pain in the abdomen, weight loss without diet and weakness. If there is a functioning tumor may cause symptoms or signs caused by too many hormones, such as high blood pressure, weakening of the bones, or diabetes.
If a patient has symptoms of cancer of the adrenal cortex, the doctor for blood and urine tests to see if the amounts of hormones in the body is normal. A doctor may also be a computed tomography scan, a special x-ray optical using a computer to a picture of the inside of the abdomen. Other special x-rays can also be taken to determine the type of tumor is present.
The risk of recovery (prognosis) of cancer of the adrenal cortex is dependent on how far the cancer has spread (the stage of the disease) and a doctor can perform surgery to remove all cancer.
