Adrenal adenocarcinomas: diagnosis and management

Thirty-two patients with adrenal adenocarcinoma are reviewed. Eleven of them had symptoms suggestive of a hormonally functional tumor. The median survival in 17 patients who had the primary tumor removed was 13.5 months from the time of surgery, with one patient surviving disease-free 19 years later. The median survival of 11 patients who did not have surgery owing to delays in diagnosis was 7.5 months from the onset of symptoms. Of six patients given O,P'DDD, two patients had objective regression, one partial, one complete. Early diagnosis may improve survival and curability of this malignant tumor.