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What is cancer of the adrenal
cortex?
Cancer of the adrenal cortex, a rare cancer, is a disease in which
cancer (malignant) cells are found in the adrenal cortex, which is
the outside layer of the adrenal gland. Cancer of the adrenal cortex
is also called adrenocortical carcinoma. There are two adrenal
glands, one above each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. The
adrenal glands are also called the suprarenal glands. The inside
layer of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal medulla.
The cells
in the adrenal cortex make important hormones that help the body
work properly. When cells in the adrenal cortex become cancerous,
they may make too much of one or more hormones, which can cause
symptoms such as high blood pressure, weakening of the bones, or
diabetes. If male or female hormones are affected, the body may go
through changes such as a deepening of the voice, growing hair on
the face, swelling of the sex organs, or swelling of the breasts.
Cancers that make hormones are called functioning tumors. Many
cancers of the adrenal cortex do not make extra hormones and are
called nonfunctioning tumors.
A doctor
should be seen if the following symptoms appear and won’t go away:
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pain
in the abdomen,
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loss
of weight without dieting, or
-
weakness.
If there
is a functioning tumor, there may be symptoms or signs caused by too
many hormones.
If there
are symptoms, a doctor will order blood and urine tests to see
whether the amounts of hormones in the body are normal. A doctor may
also order a computed tomography scan of the abdomen, a special
x-ray that uses a computer to make a picture of the inside of the
abdomen. Other special x-rays may also be done to tell what kind of
tumor is present.
The
chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on how far the cancer has
spread (stage) and on whether a doctor was able to surgically remove
all of the cancer.
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Treatment
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