Language
Country/Area
No result found
The mystery of the diagnosis of adrenal adenomas: how to discover these invisible "study of tumors"?
Adrenal adenomas, or adrenocortical adenomas, are often described as benign tumors derived from adrenocortical cells.Although most adrenal adenomas are considered benign, their diagnosis is not simple, as many adenomas are non-functional and asymptomatic.This makes it complicated and difficult for the medical interface to identify these tumors.
The diagnostic challenge of adrenal adenoma is that most of its cases are usually found inadvertently.
Adrenal adenomas are often classified as ACTH-independent disease and are associated with conditions associated with hyperadrenergic conditions such as Cushing's syndrome (hypercortisolism) or Conn's syndrome (hyperaldosterone).In addition, recent case reports support the association of adrenal adenoma with hyperandrogenemia, especially in women that can lead to hyperandrogenic hirsiopathy.It is worth noting that there is a difference between "Cushing's syndrome" and "Cushing's disease". The former is caused by adrenal adenomas, while the latter is caused by pituitary adenomas.
Shapes of adrenal adenoma
Adrenal adenomas are often considered to be endocrine inactive tumors, as most adenomas are nonfunctional and asymptomatic.However, functional adrenal adenomas can show symptoms consistent with mixed endocrine syndrome.Some common symptoms include:
- Muscle bones: osteoporosis, muscle weakness or atrophy
- Cardivascular: Hypertension
- Endocrine and metabolism: Male obesity, while women mostly show masculinity and caoh androgenicity
- Neuropsychiatric: sleep disorders, depression
- Skin: prone to bruises, stretch marks, hirsutism, acne
These diverse symptoms show that even if adenomas are considered benign, their effects can be very wide.
The Causes of Adrenal Adenoma
The formation of most adrenal adenomas is associated with tumorigenic hyperplasia of adrenal cortex cells.The human adrenal cortex consists of three concentric layers that are able to respond to the body's needs for steroid hormones.Recent studies have shown that mutations affecting molecular pathways in the adrenal region may promote abnormal proliferation and tumor formation.
Pathophysiology
If adrenal adenomas are functional, they may affect normal activity in the adrenal cortex.This can lead to excessive secretion of adrenal steroids, which in turn leads to so-called hyperadrenergic disorder.
Diagnosis Methods
Since adrenal adenomas are usually not symptomatic, the vast majority of cases are found by chance during dissection or during CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging.This has given adrenal adenoma the name of "accidental tumor".Imaging diagnosis, while challenging, once separated, they can show as lesions with clear boundaries.
For imaging diagnosis of adrenal adenomas, CT scans and MRI are the main methods at present.
Treatment of adrenal adenoma
Non-functional adrenal adenomas can usually be managed through long-term follow-up and monitoring.The treatment of functional adenomas may require surgical resection based on the type of disease caused and the severity of the condition.Furthermore, further research may help develop better diagnostic and prognostic markers, which are crucial for clinician management and treatment options.
Prognosis
For patients diagnosed with nonfunctional adrenal adenoma, the long-term prognosis is usually good, and the long-term prognosis in patients with functional adrenal adenoma also performs well under early diagnosis and treatment.
Epidemiology
The epidemiology of adrenal adenomas shows that the incidence rate in women is higher than that in men and is more common in adults.Especially in women, the onset age is earlier than men and is the most common cause of ACTH independence Cushing's syndrome.
With increasing attention to adrenal adenomas, how will the diagnosis of these tumors affect the way we manage health?
