Diagnosis and surgical treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. A review of the literature and report of two cases

: Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare and represent only 0.05 to 0.2% of all cancers. They can be hormonally active, appearing clinically by one or more endocrine syndromes, or can be hormonally non-active. Commonly most of the cases with AC are diagnosed when the neoplastic process have spread out of the suprarenal gland (stage III or IV). Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the most useful diagnostic methods of ACC but the latter is more accurate, especially in estimation of the local invasion of the tumor. Surgery is the main and the most effective method for treatment of both primary and recurrent ACC, and in selective cases--of metastasis. The chemotherapy with mitotane has a limited role and is indicated in cases of inoperable ACC (primary or recurrent) and/or presence of metastasis. Two cases of ACC treated in our department are reported. Case I: a 26-years-old female with ACC in stage II, which was diagnosed incidentally by ultrasound investigation for other consideration. Although the urine levels of free cortisol were elevated, the woman had no endocrine symptoms. Case II: a 50-years-old female with a second recurrence ACC appeared 5 years after a resection of the first recurrence tumor and 6 years after an operation for the primary tumor. Problems in diagnose and surgical treatment of these cases are discussed.