[Diagnosis and treatment of adrenocortical tumors]

Adrenocortical tumors can be divided into two groups based on their histopathological characteristics, i.e., benign (adenoma) and malignant (carcinoma), and also classified as functioning (or hormonal) and non-functioning (or non-hormonal) tumors, depending on the presence or absence of recognizable clinical syndromes due to excessive steroids. The syndrome of functioning adrenocortical tumors includes Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism and the adrenorge genital syndrome, of which a minority presents most of the specific clinical features: Cushing's syndrome; red face, typical moon face, truncal obesity, and purplisch red striae, primary aldosteronism; muscle weakness, noctural polyuria, hypertension and hypokalemia, adrenogenital syndrome; virilization or feminization, but many of them present complete clinical picture. The diagnosis of these syndromes needs to measure urinary 17-OHCS and 17-KS and plasma concentrations of cortisol, aldosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and the other steroids. Dexamenthasone suppression test, various stimulation tests and the measurement of plasma ACTH are also useful for diagnosis. Usually, adrenocortical tumors can be detected preoperatively by physical examination or radiographic studies. Some are massive enough to be palpable through the abdominal wall. Some are large enough to cause displacement of the kidney, as seen intravenous urography. Most are visible by adrenal scintigraphy using 131I-iodocholesterol, computerized tomography, or adrenal arteriography. The standard treatment for adrenocortical tumors are surgical resection. Unresectable adrenocortical carcinomas may be treated with an adrenocorticolytic drug, o'p'-DDD. Metyrapone and aminoglutethimide can be also employed to inhibit the production of steroids.