[Adrenal cortical suprarenal carcinoma in children]

The clininopathologic characteristics of 5 patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma attended at the Hospital de Pediatría of the Centro Médico Nacional of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social through a period of 15 years are studied. It is an uncommon antity and it usually made evident in children as an adrenogenital syndrome or as Cushing's syndrome. Determination of the 17--ketosteroids and in a lesser degree of the 17--hydroxysteroids, is usually high, regardless of the clinical syndrome in question. The differential diagnosis between mild and malignant neoplasia of the adrenal glands considers the same criteria of capsular and vascular invasion and metastases mentioned for other endocrine organs. However, there are studies which tend to establish a relationship between weight of the tumors with survivorship. The prognosis depends on an early diagnosis, adequate surgical treatment and the use of substitutive steroids during the pre and postoperative stages. The general mortality at 5 years is 90%.