[Treatment of childhood adrenocortical tumor]

Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2005 Oct;49(5):747-52. doi: 10.1590/s0004-27302005000500015. Epub 2006 Jan 23.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Adrenocortical tumors (ACT) in children are uncommon. However, the incidence of these tumors in Paraná is 15 times higher than that worldwide. A germline mutation, R337H TP53, present in more than 95% of our patients, is probably the reason for the higher incidence in our state. A hundred twenty-five patients were treated in the period of 1966 to 2003. Surgery is the only curative treatment. In our experience, disease stage I, absence of spillage during surgery and absence of intravenous thrombus are associated with better survival rates. Preliminary data with the combination of etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and mitotane have shown that in some patients a complete remission is observed both of the tumor and metastasis. Side effects due to these drugs are common and adrenal insufficiency may occur. Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid reposition should be done with 2 to 3 times the physiological doses.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma* / drug therapy
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma* / surgery
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis