1.What are the early symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma?
Functional adrenocortical carcinoma presents with symptoms of hormone excess.Cortisol excess causes centripetal obesity, moon face, hypertension, and diabetes.Androgen excess leads to masculinization in women.
2.How is adrenal cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis relies on endocrine testing to measure cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormone levels.CT or MRI reveals adrenal masses; malignancy should be suspected if the mass exceeds 4 cm.
3.What are the surgical treatment options for adrenal cancer?
Open adrenalectomy is the standard treatment, involving the complete removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue.Laparoscopic surgery is suitable for small tumors, whereas large tumors require open surgery.
4.What is minimally invasive treatment for adrenal cancer?
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is suitable for small, early-stage tumors.Robot-assisted surgery offers greater precision during the procedure.Stereotactic radiotherapy is used for postoperative residual or recurrent lesions.
5.What is the role of mitotane in treating adrenocortical carcinoma?
Mitotane is an adrenocortical-specific drug that inhibits adrenal hormone synthesis and tumor growth.It is used as adjuvant therapy after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.
6.Why is hormone replacement therapy needed after surgery for adrenal cancer?
Adrenalectomy results in a lack of endogenous cortisol, necessitating lifelong hormone replacement therapy.Hydrocortisone is commonly used, and the dosage must be increased during periods of stress.Hormone replacement is also required during treatment with mitotane.
7.How is follow-up conducted after adrenal cancer treatment?
Undergo abdominal CT or MRI scans every 3 months post-surgery to monitor for recurrence.Monitor changes in hormone levels.For patients with advanced disease, evaluate the efficacy and side effects of mitotane.
