The adrenal cortex makes important hormones that:
- Balance the water and salt in the body.
- Help keep blood pressure normal.
- Help control the body's use of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
- Cause the body to have masculine or feminine characteristics.
Adrenocortical carcinoma is also called cancer of the adrenal cortex. A tumor of the adrenal cortex may be functioning (makes more hormones than normal) or nonfunctioning (does not make more hormones than normal). Most adrenocortical tumors are functioning.
The hormones made by functioning tumors may cause certain signs or symptoms of disease, as described below.
The adrenal medulla makes hormones that help the body react to stress. Cancer that forms in the adrenal medulla is called pheochromocytoma.
Adrenocortical carcinoma and pheochromocytoma can occur in both adults and children. Treatment for children, however, is different from treatment for adults.
Risk Factors
Having certain genetic conditions increases the risk of adrenocortical carcinoma (risk factors). Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer, and not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Our physicians will review your risk factors with you.
Risk factors for adrenocortical carcinoma include having the following hereditary conditions:
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma include:
- A lump in the abdomen
- Pain in the abdomen or back
- A feeling of fullness in the abdomen
A nonfunctioning adrenocortical tumor may not cause signs or symptoms in the early stages.
A functioning adrenocortical tumor makes too much of one of the following hormones:
- Cortisol
- Aldosterone
- Testosterone
- Estrogen
Too much cortisol may cause:
- Weight gain in the face, neck, and trunk of the body, and thin arms and legs
- Growth of fine hair on the face, upper back, or arms
- A round, red, full face
- A lump of fat on the back of the neck
- A deepening of the voice and swelling of the sex organs or breasts in both males and females
- Muscle weakness
- High blood sugar
- High blood pressure
Too much aldosterone may cause:
- High blood pressure
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Frequent urination
- Feeling thirsty
Too much testosterone (in women) may cause:
- Growth of fine hair on the face, upper back, or arms
- Acne
- Balding
- A deepening of the voice
- No menstrual periods
Men who make too much testosterone do not usually have signs or symptoms.
Too much estrogen (in women) may cause:
- Irregular menstrual periods in women who have not gone through menopause
- Vaginal bleeding in women who have gone through menopause
- Weight gain
Too much estrogen (in men) may cause:
- Growth of breast tissue
- Lower sex drive
- Impotence
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by adrenocortical carcinoma or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of these problems.
Diagnostic Tests
Tests and exams used to diagnose adrenocortical carcinoma include:
- Physical exam
- Biopsy
- 24-hour urine test
- Blood chemistry study
- CT scan or MRI
Learn more about how we diagnose adrenocortical carcinoma.
Treatments
There are different types of treatment for patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. Treatments include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- IR-guided ablation
Learn more about how we treat adrenocortical carcinoma.
Factors Affecting Treatment Options and Recovery
Prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on:
- The stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor and whether it is in the adrenal gland only or has spread to other places in the body).
- Whether the tumor can be completely removed in surgery.
- Whether the cancer has been treated in the past.
- Your general health.
- The grade of tumor cells (how different they look from normal cells under a microscope).
Adrenocortical carcinoma may be cured if treated at an early stage.