[Adrenal cortical carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal cortical carcinoma.


METHODS
Fifteen cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma (8 functional and 7 nonfunctional) were treated surgically during the period of 1978 - 1998. 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. The nonfunctional had extra-adrenal symptoms such as acute abdominal pain and hypertension. A definite diagnosis can be made by the measurements of urine 17-ketosteroid, 17-hydrosteroid, cortisol, aldosterone, CT, and B-ultrasonography.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical removal of the tumor is the only effective treatment. Early diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma is very difficult, especially in the non-functional.
Yang
C
C
Department of Urology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052.
Qiang
W
W
Han
S
S
Wang
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies