Diagnosis and treatment of functional adrenal cortical carcinoma
YANG Chang-hai QIANG Wan-ming HAN Shu-nan
(Department of Urology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University,Tianjin,300052)
Abstract Purpose: To study the diagnosis and treatment of functional adrenal cortical carcinoma. Methods: Eight cases of functional adrenal cortical carcinoma were treated surgically during the period of 1978~1997.They were confirmed operatively and pathologically. Results: The functional carcinoma usually showed typical clinical features such as Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, and adrenogenital syndrome. A definite diagnosis can be made by the measurements of urine 17-hydrosteroid,cortisol, aldosterone, CT and B-ultrasonography. Conclusions: Surgical removal of the tumor is the only effective treatment. Surgical resection with post-operative chemotherapy and radiotherapy may improve the outcome. Early diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma is very difficult, causing an unsatisfactory prognosis.
Key words Adrenal cortical carcinoma Cushing′s syndrome Diagnosis