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      Adrenocortical oncocytic carcinoma with recurrent metastases: a case report and review of the literature

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          Abstract

          Background

          Adrenal cortex oncocytic carcinoma (AOC) represents an exceptional pathological entity, since only 22 cases have been documented in the literature so far.

          Case presentation

          Our case concerns a 54-year-old man with past medical history of right adrenal excision with partial hepatectomy, due to an adrenocortical carcinoma. The patient was admitted in our hospital to undergo surgical resection of a left lung mass newly detected on chest Computed Tomography scan. The histological and immunohistochemical study revealed a metastatic AOC. Although the patient was given mitotane orally in adjuvant basis, he experienced relapse with multiple metastases in the thorax twice in the next year and was treated with consecutive resections. Two and a half years later, a right hip joint metastasis was found and concurrent chemoradiation was given. Finally, approximately five years post disease onset, the patient died due to massive metastatic disease. A thorough review of AOC and particularly all diagnostic difficulties are extensively stated.

          Conclusion

          Histological classification of adrenocortical oncocytic tumours has been so far a matter of debate. There is no officially established histological scoring system regarding these rare neoplasms and therefore many diagnostic difficulties occur for pathologists.

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          Most cited references44

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          Clinical review: Adrenocortical carcinoma: clinical update.

          Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy with incompletely understood pathogenesis and poor prognosis. Patients present with hormone excess (e.g. virilization, Cushing's syndrome) or a local mass effect (median tumor size at diagnosis > 10 cm). This paper reviews current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in ACC. Original articles and reviews were identified using a PubMed search strategy (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) covering the time period up until November 2005. The following search terms were used in varying combinations: adrenal, adrenocortical, cancer, carcinoma, tumor, diagnosis, imaging, treatment, radiotherapy, mitotane, cytotoxic, surgery. Tumors typically appear inhomogeneous in both computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with necroses and irregular borders and differ from benign adenomas by their low fat content. Hormonal analysis reveals evidence of steroid hormone secretion by the tumor in the majority of cases, even in seemingly hormonally inactive lesions. Histopathology is crucial for the diagnosis of malignancy and may also provide important prognostic information. In stages I-III open surgery by an expert surgeon aiming at an R0 resection is the treatment of choice. Local recurrence is frequent, particularly after violation of the tumor capsule. Surgery also plays a role in local tumor recurrence and metastatic disease. In patients not amenable to surgery, mitotane (alone or in combination with cytotoxic drugs) remains the treatment of choice. Monitoring of drug levels (therapeutic range 14-20 mg/liter) is mandatory for optimum results. In advanced disease, the most promising therapeutic options (etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin plus mitotane, and streptozotocin plus mitotane) are currently being compared in an international phase III trial (www.firm-act.org). Adjuvant treatment options after complete tumor removal (e.g. mitotane, radiotherapy) are urgently needed because postoperative disease-free survival at 5 yr is only around 30%, but options have still not been convincingly established. National registries, international cooperations, and trials provide important new structures for patients but also for researchers aiming at systematic and continuous progress in ACC. However, future advances in the management of ACC will mainly depend on a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis facilitating the use of modern cancer treatments (e.g. tyrosine kinase inhibitors).
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            Comparative histologic study of 43 metastasizing and nonmetastasizing adrenocortical tumors.

            A series of 43 adrenocortical tumors was analyzed using nine histologic features. Mitotic activity, especially with atypical forms, and venous invasion correlated best with metastasizing or recurring tumors; however, no single criterion was useful alone. The combination of the following nine criteria was most useful in distinguishing malignant from benign tumors: nuclear grade III or IV; mitotic rate greater than 5/50 high-power fields; atypical mitoses; clear cells comprising 25% or less of the tumor; a diffuse architecture; microscopic necrosis; and invasion of venous, sinusoidal, and capsular structures. None of the 24 tumors with two or less of these criteria metastasized or recurred, while all but one of the 19 tumors with four or more of these criteria either recurred or metastasized.
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              Adrenocortical carcinoma in the United States: treatment utilization and prognostic factors.

              Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor with a relatively poor prognosis. The authors' objectives were to examine treatment utilization and factors associated with long-term survival after resection of ACC in a large, national, patient population. Patients diagnosed with ACC from 1985 to 2005 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Patient, tumor, treatment, and hospital factors associated with survival after resection were examined. For the current study, 3982 patients with ACC were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 55 years. Median tumor size was 13 cm. Of the patients with nodes examined, 26.5% had nodal metastases. Distant metastases were found on presentation in 21.6% of patients. A total of 57.4% of patients underwent surgical resection alone, whereas 16.0% underwent resection with adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. A total of 19.4% had margin-positive resections. Treatment utilization remained unchanged from 1985 to 2005 (P = .28). Median follow-up was 24 months. Overall 5-year survival for all patients who underwent resection was 38.6% (median survival, 31.9 months). Multivariable analysis demonstrated a higher risk of death with increasing age, poorly differentiated tumors, involved margins, and nodal or distant metastases. Overall survival remained unchanged from 1985 to 2000 (P = .08). ACC carries a poor prognosis for patients commonly presenting with large, locally invasive tumors, involved margins, and metastatic disease. Survival is not affected by size but is diminished with increasing age, poorly differentiated tumors, involved margins, and the presence of regional and distant disease. Identification of novel therapies may help to increase survival, which has remained unchanged over the last 20 years. (c) 2008 American Cancer Society
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                World J Surg Oncol
                World Journal of Surgical Oncology
                BioMed Central
                1477-7819
                2008
                17 December 2008
                : 6
                : 134
                Affiliations
                [1 ]Department of Pathology, Evangelismos General Hospital, Ipsilantou Str., Athens, Greece
                [2 ]Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Evangelismos General Hospital, Ipsilantou Str., Athens, Greece
                [3 ]Oncology Clinic, Evangelismos General Hospital, Ipsilantou Str., Athens, Greece
                [4 ]Oncology Clinic, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, Vas. Sofias Av., Athens-Greece
                Article
                1477-7819-6-134
                10.1186/1477-7819-6-134
                2630932
                19091123
                5ec348c6-7199-42a7-afba-81b6b95b5fc4
                Copyright © 2008 Argyriou et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 1 April 2008
                : 17 December 2008
                Categories
                Review

                Surgery
                Surgery

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