Adrenal Cancer Overview
The adrenal gland is located on top of each kidney. It is
divided into two sections: the adrenal medulla and the adrenal
cortex. Each has a different function, but in general the
overall function of the gland is to make steroid hormones.
Although there are two parts to the adrenal gland, the vast
majority of malignancies of the adrenal gland occur in the
cortex. Carcinomas of the adrenal gland are considered either
functional or nonfunctional; that is, they either produce
steroids (which may lead to clinical symptoms) or they don't.
This disease is very rare, affecting 2 per 1 million people.
Staging this disease
Staging allows the physician to gauge the amount of and the
location of tumor in the body by using information gathered from
imaging studies such as CT scans, MRIs, etc., as well as
information from pathology and physical examination. Once a
stage has been defined, the physician can make a prediction of
how the patient may do over time, and determine what sort of
therapy might be necessary.
There is no formally adopted staging system for adrenal
carcinoma at this time. However, the one most often used places
patients into one of four categories. Variables taken into
account include: tumor size; presence or absence of invasion
into the kidney or other nearby organs; the presence or absence
of lymph node involvement; and the presence or absence of
distant disease (such as lung, liver or bone involvement).
Stages may be generally divided into the following:
Stage 1: Small tumors (less than 2 inches) without
evidence of local invasion; absence of nodal involvement and
absence of distant disease.
Stage 2: Tumors larger than 2 inches without evidence
of local invasion; absence of nodal involvement and absence
of distant disease.
Stage 3: Tumors of any size that exhibit nodal
involvement.
Stage 4: A mixed group consisting of tumors that
invade adjacent structures; any tumor that has evidence of
distant spread; or any tumor that has invaded the kidney and
has positive nodal involvement.
Prognosis
Prognosis is determined by the interaction of disease stage and
aggressiveness as defined by number of cells dividing when
examined under the microscope.
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