[The clinical characteristic of adrenal metastatic tumor].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical features of adrenal metastasis.


METHODS
From January 1993 to December 2004, 103 cases of adrenal metastasis were reviewed.


RESULTS
Lung and hepatocellular carcinoma were the most common primary tumor of adrenal metastatic tumor, which about 36.9% (38/103) and 42.7% (44/103) of all cases, followed by renal carcinoma 6.8% (7/103), colorectal carcinoma 4.9% (5/103), stomach carcinoma 3.9% (4/103), breast cancer 1.9% (2/103), unknown primary tumor 2.9% (3/103). Most of these were low differentiation. The mean diameter of adrenal metastasis was 3.9 cm. The mean interval from detection of primary tumor to adrenal metastasis was 9.5 months. And 79.6% (82/103) were detected as a part of multiorgan metastasis. Only 5 cases (4.9%) were presented with pain in the back. There was little characterization of ultrasonography, CT and MRI, color-Doppler and selective arterial imaging showed little blood supply. All of patients were treated with synthetic methods, 16 cases (15.5%) who had undergone adrenalectomy for metastasis disease had a improved survival compared with those non-adrenalectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no particular presentation of clinic and imaging, diagnosis depending on history, follow-up and the pathological presentation of primary tumor. There are no standard treatment guidelines for this group of patients. When the primary tumor could be resected or be well controlled, and there is no other evidence of metastasis, adrenalectomy is recommended. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) could not actually be performed.
Liu
Yu-jun
YJ
Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Wang
Guo-min
GM
Zhang
Yong-kang
YK
Zhang
Li
L
Sun
Li-an
LA
Lin
Zong-ming
ZM
Zhu
Tong-yu
TY
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome