The most common presentation of adrenocortical carcinoma is that of an incidentaloma. At presentation, 19% have inferior vena cava (IVC) involvement and 32% have metastases. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Clinical presentation and evaluation of adrenocortical tumors. UpToDate. Jul 28, 2014; Andre Lacroix. Adrenocortical Adenomas. UpToDate. [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care by a qualified specialist and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. [orpha.net]

Hypokalemia will be variably present. The easiest screening test for hospitalized patients is the dexamethasone suppression test. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Thyroid gland Adenomas of thyroids present as thyroid nodules. Surgery may be needed to remove them if they are secreting excess hormones. Breasts Breasts may be affected by fibroadenomas. [news-medical.net]

• Fatigue

  Common symptoms of Cushing's syndrome can include upper body obesity; severe fatigue and muscle weakness; high blood pressure ; backache; high blood sugar; easy bruising; and bluish-red stretch marks on the skin. [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]

  The hypokalemia (low potassium level) can cause symptoms like fatigue, numbness, increased urination, increased thirst, muscle cramps, and muscle weakness. [columbiasurgery.org]

  Non-specific, fatigue and generalized weakness are frequent complaints. Finally, neuropsychiatric symptoms have been reported, with depression and lethargy being the most common. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

  Cushing syndrome The clinical presentation of Cushing syndrome is hypertension, moon facies, abdominal striae, buffalo hump, muscle weakness, amenorrhea, decreased libido, osteoporosis, fatigue, hirsutism, and obesity. [emedicine.medscape.com]

• Resistant Hypertension

  Multi-drug resistant hypertension. Hypertension with spontaneous or diuretic-induced hypokalemia. Hypertension with an incidentally discovered adrenal mass. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

• Headache

  You may get too much epinephrine or norepinephrine in your blood, which can cause high blood pressure, headaches, and heart problems. Treatment If you have a nonfunctioning tumor, you probably won’t need any treatment. [webmd.com]

  The hypertension may cause headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness. While patients with hyperaldosteronism may have normal potassium levels, many patients may have low potassium levels. [columbiasurgery.org]

  Pathophysiology Neoplastic proliferation of adrenal cortical cells ↑Aldosterone → impacts distal tubules & collecting ducts of nephron → ↑sodium and water retention, ↓potassium retention → ↑blood pressure Clinical features Hypertension, proximal muscle weakness, headache [pathologyoutlines.com]

  Symptoms of this condition may include high blood pressure, fatigue, headache, muscle weakness, numbness and paralysis that comes and goes. [5] Benign cortisol-secreting adenomas can also produce small amounts of androgens (steroid hormones, such as testosterone [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]

• Stroke

  Without proper treatment, patients with hyperaldosteronism often suffer from poorly controlled high blood pressure and are at increased risk for heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, kidney failure, and early death. [columbiasurgery.org]

  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. July 2013; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cushings/cushings.htm. Hyperaldosteronism - Primary and Secondary. MedlinePlus. [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]

The workup of adrenal disorders requiring surgical intervention has undergone a revolution with the tremendous advances in hormonal research, as well as in radiographic techniques and localization. [emedicine.medscape.com]

The treatment for hyperaldosteronism depends on the underlying cause. In patients with a single benign tumor ( adenoma ), surgical removal ( adrenalectomy ) is curative. [columbiasurgery.org]

Nonfunctional adrenal adenomas typically do not cause any problems and rarely require treatment. [7] Last updated: 11/26/2014 Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]

The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care by a qualified specialist and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. [orpha.net]

The preferred surgical treatment for PH due to an adenoma is laparoscopic total adrenalectomy. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Treatment If you have a nonfunctioning tumor, you probably won’t need any treatment. Your doctor will just want to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t become functional. For functional tumors, you typically get surgery. [webmd.com]

Treatment and prognosis Small adrenal masses with manifestations of hormonal excess require resection, as do large (>3-5 cm) non-functioning adrenal mass lesions, as they are considered potentially malignant (see adrenal carcinoma ). [radiopaedia.org]

However, with appropriate treatment, this disease is treatable and has an excellent prognosis. Patients with difficult to control or long-standing hypertension should be screened for primary hyperaldosteronism. [columbiasurgery.org]

Prognosis and Patient Counseling Cushing's syndrome Patients with Cushing’s syndrome from a benign adrenal adenoma experience a 5-year survival rate of 95% and a 10-year survival rate of 90% after definitive adrenalectomy. Recurrence is rare. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Adrenocortical carcinoma Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Up to 80% of adrenal carcinomas are functional and secrete multiple hormones. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Etiology Primary hyperaldosteronism The most common causes of aldosterone overproduction are idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia, followed by adenomas, and then (rarely) adrenal carcinoma. [emedicine.medscape.com]

[…] cortex, usually without discrete nodules Nodular adrenal hyperplasia (NAH): adrenal cortex contains multiple nodules with / without generalized thickening Various cutoffs exist for macro versus micronodular hyperplasia (range 0.5 - 3.0 cm in diameter) Epidemiology [pathologyoutlines.com]

Epidemiology Frequency In the United States, tumors of the adrenal cortex are reported in 2% of all autopsies, with the most common lesion being a benign adenoma. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Adrenocortical carcinoma See Adrenocortical carcinoma in Pathophysiology. [emedicine.medscape.com]

[…] micronodular hyperplasia (range 0.5 - 3.0 cm in diameter) Epidemiology F > M, ages third to fifth decade Sites Unknown, theoretically zona glomerulosa, however cells may resemble any of the 3 layers of the adrenal cortex or a mixture of these cell types Pathophysiology [pathologyoutlines.com]

Sometimes, instead of surgery, you may be able to get medicine that prevents hormones from working or lowers their levels so you won’t have any symptoms. [webmd.com]

Appropriate Prophylaxis and Other Measures to Prevent Readmission NA VII. What's the evidence? Arnaldi, G, Angeli, A, Atkinson, AB. “Diagnosis and complications of Cushing's syndrome: A consensus statement”. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]