Abstracts of the 6th Joint Meeting of the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology and the Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 10-13 May 2011 (original) (raw)

The Journal of Pathology, 2011

Abstract

Adrenal cortical adenomas occur in about 5% of the population while adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare, but very aggressive, tumour. Most carcinomas are easily diagnosed because they are obviously invasive or metastatic at presentation. However, it is important to identify malignant potential in intra-adrenal tumours. Multifactorial histological approaches have been the most commonly used approach in making the distinction between benign and malignant lesions and the uses and limitations of these will be discussed eg. in the diagnosis of oncocytic tumours. There are now a number of published studies on molecular genetic changes in benign and malignant tumours, and some have suggested that particular changes have prognostic importance in carcinoma. Abnormalities in the β-catenin pathway and overexpression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in carcinomas appear to be important. Adrenocortical hyperplasia has long been recognised as associated with Cushing’s disease (pituitary-dependent Cushing’s syndrome) and ectopic adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) syndrome. It is now recognised that hyperplasia may also be associated with ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome, in which the adrenal expresses aberrant receptors and responds to hormones other than ACTH.

Zahra Mohammed hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Zahra know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.