Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the clinical and functional imaging examination and pathological features of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of ACC.Methods: The clinical data of 93 patients with ACC were analyzed retrospectively. Their diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up of mitotane medcine therapy were madeaccording to clinical manifestations, adrenal endocrine function determination, imaging examination characteristics and histopathological results.Results: Among the 93 patients, the age ranged from 11 to 76 years, with a median age of 48 years. The ratio of male to female was 1 ∶1.2. Twenty-four hours urinary free cortisol (UFC) elevated in 86 cases, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) decreased in 88 cases, blood F rhythm disappeared in 82 cases, and 31 cases of aldosterone increased. Thirty-six cases of sexual hormone increased. Neuron specific enolase (NSE) increased in 27 cases. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increased in 26 cases. Seventy-six cases of high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) and low-dose dexamethasone supression test (LDDST) were not suppressed separately. There were 62 cases of hypertension, and typical Cushing manifestations in 81 cases. Blood glucose elevated in 54 cases. Hypokalemia was in 21 cases and androgen secretion increased in 36 cases. The maximum diameter of the tumor was 3-17 cm, with 6 cases of adrenal central vein, renal vein and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. The recurrence time was 1.2-5.0 years after operation. Metastasis and recurrence were in 56 cases during the follow-up, lung metastasis in 13 cases, liver metastasis in 17 cases, retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in 9 cases, lumbar metastasis in 7 cases, ovarian metastasis in 3 cases, abdominal wall and incision implantation in 4 cases. Fifteen cases with distant metastasis. Seventy-seven patients were treated with radical adrenalectomy, and the other patients were treated with renal and adrenal resection on the same side of the kidney. There were 5 cases of adrenal tumor with vena cava tumor thrombus in the removal of the tumor, and the other for the partial resection of the vena cava in 3 cases. Regarding the clinical stage, stage I was in 39 cases, stage Ⅱ in 28 cases, stage Ⅲ in 16 cases and stage Ⅳ in 10 cases. The patients were followed up for 8-69 months, and 43 patients survived more than 5 years.Conclusion: Function imaging combined with clinical features and endocrine hormone levels have important roles in ACC early diagnosis. Radical excision is the only effective treatment. Adjuvant or adjuvant mitotane drug therapy can brused for the treatment of recurrence and metastasis ACC patients,. ACC is a tumor with high malignancy and poor prognosis.

Key words: Adrenocortical carcinoma, Nuclear imaging, Pathology, Mitotane, Prognosis