Genetic background of adrenocortical tumor development

World J Surg. 2001 Jul;25(7):948-56. doi: 10.1007/s00268-001-0034-3.

Abstract

The increasing occurrence of incidentally discovered benign adrenocortical tumors has become a clinical dilemma because of the difficulties in differentiating them from their malignant counterpart. Adrenocortical tumors are associated with familial cancer syndromes such as the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, the Li-Fraumeni syndrome, the Carney complex, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and the McCune-Albright syndrome. Genetic events are known to take place on the chromosomal and gene level in sporadic adrenocortical tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex / metabolism
  • Adrenal Cortex / pathology
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans