Androgen-secreting adrenal tumors

Adrenal tumors that secrete androgens exclusively are extraordinarily rare. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with pure androgen-secreting adrenal tumors. A retrospective chart review from January 1946 through November 2002 identified 11 female patients with pure androgen-secreting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surgery 2003-12, Vol.134 (6), p.874-880
Main Authors: Cordera, Fernando, Grant, Clive, van Heerden, Jon, Thompson, Geoffrey, Young, William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - metabolism
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - pathology
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - physiopathology
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery
Adrenocortical Adenoma - metabolism
Adrenocortical Adenoma - pathology
Adrenocortical Adenoma - physiopathology
Adrenocortical Adenoma - surgery
Adrenocortical Carcinoma - metabolism
Adrenocortical Carcinoma - physiopathology
Adrenocortical Carcinoma - secondary
Adrenocortical Carcinoma - therapy
Adult
Androgens - biosynthesis
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Lung Neoplasms - metabolism
Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology
Lung Neoplasms - secondary
Lung Neoplasms - therapy
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Retrospective Studies
Virilism - physiopathology
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Summary:Adrenal tumors that secrete androgens exclusively are extraordinarily rare. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with pure androgen-secreting adrenal tumors. A retrospective chart review from January 1946 through November 2002 identified 11 female patients with pure androgen-secreting adrenal tumors. The mean age was 23.4 years (range, 1-52). The most common presenting symptoms were hirsutism, acne, and clitoral enlargement. Elevated 17-ketosteroids were found in seven of nine tested patients. Computed tomogram, ultrasound, or both localized tumors in six of seven patients. All tumors were surgically resected, one laparoscopically, all without complications. Five of the 11 tumors were malignant. Mean weight and mean maximal diameter for benign and malignant tumors were 44 g and 4.2 cm and 232 g and 9.8 cm, respectively. Mean hospital stay was 8.5 days, with excess androgen production resolved in all patients. Recurrence and disease-related death occurred in only one patient who had pulmonary metastases at diagnosis. The remaining patients had no recurrence of tumor at mean follow-up of 11.7 years (range, 0.5-32 years). Pure androgen-producing tumors are extremely rare. Approximately 50% are benign, and surgical resection provides excellent treatment if the tumors are not metastatic at the time of diagnosis.
ISSN:0039-6060
1532-7361
DOI:10.1016/S0039-6060(03)00410-0