Partial response after intensive chemotherapy for adrenal cortical carcinoma in a child

Rare Presentation of Adrenocortical Carcinoma in a 4-Month-Old Boy

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy and even rarer in infancy. Most of these tumors in pediatric age group are hormonally active and predominantly present with virilization. Cortisol hypersecretion presenting as Cushing syndrome is extremely rare and seen in older age groups. We report a 4-month-old infant who presented with linear growth arrest and excessive weight gain in early infancy, consequently diagnosed with ACC. On long-term follow-up for 7 years, he remained metastasis free following surgical resection and was not treated with chemotherapy.

Adrenocortical carcinoma in children: first population-based clinicopathological study with long-term follow-up

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare in both adult and pediatric populations. Literature suggests significant differences between children and adults in presentation, histological properties and outcome. The aim of this first nationwide study on pediatric ACC was to describe the incidence, presentation, pathological characteristics, treatment and survival in The Netherlands. All ACC patients aged <20 years at diagnosis and registered in the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry between 1993 and 2010 were included. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Archival histological slides were collected via the Dutch Pathology Registry (PALGA). We compared our findings to all clinical studies on pediatric ACC that were found on PubMed. Based on the results, 12 patients were identified: 8 females and 4 males. The median age was 4.1 years (range 1.1-18.6). The population-based age-standardized incidence rate for patients <20 years was 0.18 per million person-years. Autonomous hormonal secretion was present in 10 patients. Seven patients were aged ≤4 years at diagnosis, 5 presented with localized disease and 2 with locally advanced disease. Five patients were aged ≥5 years, 3 presented with distant metastases and 1 with locally advanced disease. For all patients, histological examination displayed malignant characteristics. All patients aged ≤4 years at diagnosis survived; the median follow-up was 97 months (57-179 months). All patients aged ≥5 years died; the median survival was 6 months (0-38 months). Pediatric ACC is extremely rare in the Western world. The clinical outcome was remarkably better in patients aged ≤4 years. This is in accordance with less advanced stage of disease at presentation, yet contrasts with the presence of adverse histological characteristics. Clinical management in advanced disease is adapted from adult practice in the absence of evidence regarding pediatric ACC.

Vincristine, cisplatin, teniposide, and cyclophosphamide combination in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic adrenocortical cancer

The efficacy and tolerability of a combination of vincristine, cisplatin, teniposide, and cyclophosphamide (OPEC) in 11 patients (median age, 45 yr) with recurrent and/or metastatic adrenocortical cancer (ACC) (seven functional and four nonfunctional) were evaluated. All patients received this regimen after the failure of streptozocin and o,p'-DDD (SO) combination therapy. The regimen comprised cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m2, and vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2, maximum dose 2.0 mg (d 1); cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 (d 2) and teniposide, 150 mg/m2 (d 4). Cycles were repeated every 4 wk. One to eight cycles (median, six cycles) of OPEC were administered to each patient. The median duration of treatment was 6 mo. The overall 2-yr survival rate was 82% and the median survival since diagnosis was 44 mo while it was 21 mo since start of OPEC therapy. Responses were obtained in nine patients: partial response in two patients, and stable disease in seven patients. The median duration of response was 6.75 mo. A total of 60 cycles of chemotherapy were given to all patients; grade 1-2 toxicity occurred in 57 cycles, while grade 3 toxicity was observed only in two cycles, according to NCI's Common Toxicity Criteria. We conclude that the OPEC regimen may be considered in recurrent or metastatic ACC as a second-line medical treatment. However, the combination is accompanied by considerable side effects and dose modifications are necessary in order to be able to recommend the treatment. This regimen needs further evaluation compared with SO therapy preferably in a randomized multicenter trial.

Virilizing Adrenocortical Carcinoma Invading the Right Atrium with Histological High-Grade Malignancy and p53 Mutation in a 3-Year-Old Child: Indication of Post Operative Adjuvant Chemotherapy

We present a 3-yr-old girl with a virilizing adrenocortical carcinoma invading into the right atrium with histological high-grade malignancy and p53 mutation. Development of facial acne and pubic hair were noted at 3 yr and 2 mo. The levels of androgens were high. Diurnal variation in ACTH and cortisol were absent. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large right suprarenal mass, with extension into the inferior vena cava and right atrium. Based on the diagnosis of a right virilizing adrenocortical tumor with Cushing syndrome, surgery was performed by a combined thoracoabdominal approach with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. The tumor was 7 × 5.5 × 3.5 cm in size, and weighed 95 g. The histological diagnosis was adrenocartical carcinoma with high-grade malignancy according to the category of Weiss. A heterozygous mutation of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene (codon 248 CGC→TGG) was found. We did not perform adjuvant chemotherapy because of radical resection on macroscopic observation and no metastasis in radiological findings. Five months after the surgery, her chest X ray and computed tomography revealed multiple lung metastases and a single liver metastasis. In this type of patient with histological high-grade malignancy and p53 mutations, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated even if macroscopic total surgical removal had been performed.

Selective testosterone secreting adrenocortical carcinoma in an infant

Adrenocortical carcinoma in children is a rare tumor of adrenal gland. An infant presented with signs of virilization due to selective testosterone hypersecretion. Diagnosis was established with the help of the computerized tomographic scan and histopathological examination. Following adrenalectomy patient made uneventful recovery and six months later does not have any clinical or laboratory evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

Adrenal masses in the newborn

The incidence of neonatal adrenal tumors is increasing due to the expanded use and accuracy of prenatal ultrasonography in routine obstetric care. Although adrenal and juxtarenal masses may represent benign lesions (adrenal hemorrhage, subdiapragmatic extralobar pulmonary sequestration), the majority of masses either are premalignant or malignant. Previous algorithms for the diagnosis and management of these lesions have been guided primarily by the high incidence of neuroblastomas within this group. Improved insight into the relatively benign behavior of many neonatal neuroblastomas has stimulated debate regarding the appropriate management schema for neonatal adrenal masses. Moreover, the increasing recognition of benign juxtarenal lesions further challenges the conventional dogma. This review discusses the major categories of adrenal masses to help generate a rational algorithm for diagnosis and therapy.

Adrenocortical neoplasms in children: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Primary neoplasms of the adrenal cortex are rare in children and differ significantly in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and biologic features from their counterparts in adults. In children, the inclusive term adrenocortical neoplasm is applied because adrenal adenoma and adrenal carcinoma may be difficult to distinguish histopathologically. Pediatric adrenocortical neoplasms typically occur before 5 years of age, affect young girls more commonly than boys, and are associated with hemihypertrophy and Beckwith-Wiedemann and Li-Fraumeni syndromes. Most children with an adrenocortical neoplasm present with signs and symptoms of endocrine abnormality, including virilization and Cushing syndrome. Cross-sectional imaging studies typically demonstrate a large, circumscribed, predominantly solid suprarenal mass with variable heterogeneity due to hemorrhage and necrosis. Calcification is not uncommon. Local invasion and metastases to the lungs, liver, and regional lymph nodes may be present at diagnosis. When friable tumor thrombus extends into the inferior vena cava, it poses a high risk of pulmonary embolization. The finding of increased retroperitoneal fat due to hypercortisolism on computed tomographic and magnetic resonance images of children with an adrenal mass favors the diagnosis of adrenocortical neoplasm. Surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy, with chemotherapy used for patients with metastases or persistent elevated hormone levels following surgery. Patients younger than 5 years with aggressive adrenocortical neoplasms fare better than older children.