Staging
Cancer is given a Stage (from I to IV), depending on how much it has spread. Adrenocortical carcinoma is staged as follows:
Stage I:
The tumor is less than 5 centimeters across and there is no sign it has invaded the adrenal cortex (local invasion). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs (metastasized).
Stage II:
The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, with no local invasion. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or metastasized.
Stage III:
There is no local invasion or metastases, but the tumor may have spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IV:
The cancer has spread to distant organs.
Recurrent:
The cancer has returned to the same area or to a different part of the body after treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma depends on the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health. It usually includes surgical removal of the adrenal glands and any nearby tissue. Lymph nodes may be removed if the cancer has spread to them. Chemotherapy and/or radiation may be used to treat tumors. Drugs that reduce the symptoms caused by excess hormone production may also be given.
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