Adrenal cortical carcinoma.
The records of 110 patients (58 females and 52 males) with histologically proven adrenal cortical carcinoma were studied. Fifty-six of 110 (50.9%) patients had abdominal symptoms and 33 (30.0%) had a palpable abdominal mass. Surgery for localized and regional disease was associated with a disease-free survival time of at least 2 years in 28 of the 50 (56%) patients. Abdominal radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, and 1,1 dichloro-2 (O-chlorophenyl)-2 (P-chlorophenyl) ethane (OPDDD) were effective in three of 19 (15.8%) patients, three of 31 (9.7%) patients, and 21 of 72 (29.2%) patients, respectively. Combined radiotherapy and OPDDD did not confer any additional benefit over OPDDD alone. Six of seven patients who received OPDDD as adjuvant treatment are still alive at 1 to 4 years. Distant metastases occurred most commonly in the lungs, liver, peritoneum, lymph nodes, and bones. Only 23% of the patients survived 5 years or more. We conclude that early diagnosis and complete surgical excision offer the best prospects for long-term survival and that the efficacy of adjuvant OPDDD needs to be evaluated further.
Venkatesh
S
S
Department of Medical Specialties, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
Hickey
R C
RC
Sellin
R V
RV
Fernandez
J F
JF
Samaan
N A
NA
D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary