Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0677930 (primary tumor)
 20,210 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This study concerns the history of a male patient with hormone-producing adrenal cortical carcinoma. Six months after resection of the primary tumor, lymph node metastases were detected and treatment with o,p'-DDD [1,1 dichloro-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] (Lysodren/mitotane) was started. After 2 years, a complete histologically proven response was confirmed at laparotomy and is still sustained 2 years after the discontinuation of treatment. As a consequence of insufficient steroid replacement the patient suffered bouts of adrenal insufficiency. After 1 year of treatment, the measurement of the plasma levels of o,p'-DDD showed an accumulation of the drug. At that time, progressive major central nervous system toxicity occurred, which proved to be reversible on discontinuation of the treatment.
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PMID:Complete response of metastasized adrenal cortical carcinoma with o,p'-DDD. Case report and literature review. 636 Mar 29

The oncology patient can experience medical or surgical emergencies as a result of effects of the primary tumor, metastases, or systemic effects of the disease. Emergencies unrelated to the primary oncologic diagnosis, such as acute myocardial infarction, drug overdose, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage, also may occur. For this reason routine emergency protocols and diagnostic procedures should be followed in the treatment of oncology patients. We review the major oncologic-related emergencies, including central nervous system and spinal cord compression, airway obstruction, cardiac tamponade, gastrointestinal obstruction, adrenal insufficiency and hypercalcemia, sepsis, and coagulopathies. Medical and surgical emergencies in the oncology patient should be treated aggressively in the emergency department because a determination about the quality of life of the patient, or the reversibility of the acute process, often cannot be answered quickly in the emergency setting.
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PMID:Emergency evaluation of the cancer patient. 646 53

Our patient's symptoms of adrenal insufficiency were the first evidence of recurrence of the primary tumor. The diagnosis of hypoadrenalism was established by the standard ACTH stimulation test. The elevated ACTH level provided corroborating evidence that this was primary adrenal insufficiency rather than secondary to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. The CT scan of the abdomen then revealed bilateral adrenal gland enlargement as well as a less dense area in the spleen, both suggestive of metastatic disease. The CT scan has proven to be of value in diagnosing tumor involvement of the adrenal glands. The patient's response to hormonal replacement was both rapid and gratifying, and he was able to leave the hospital to resume his usual activities. The possibility of adrenal insufficiency should be considered in any patient with a history of carcinoma who has malaise, weakness, and weight loss. Adrenal insufficiency is a treatable condition, and treatment of it provides symptomatic relief that may increase the quality of life. As patients with cancer survive longer, this complication may be observed more frequently.
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PMID:Adrenal insufficiency due to metastatic lung carcinoma and shown by abdominal CT scan. 650 70

Adrenals are a common site of metastasis for many solid tumors. Adrenal metastases, and related symptoms of adrenal failure, are usually overlooked in clinical practice. This is probably due to the functional compensation of the adrenal glands and to the fact that signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are aspecific, and often masked by symptoms of the neoplastic disease. In some tumors in which adrenal involvement is particularly frequent, adrenal evaluation should be an essential part of the preoperative diagnostic work-up. In case of demonstration of metastatic involvement the patient could be spared a useless resection of the primary tumor. However, in selected patients, even after the demonstration of an adrenal metastasis, radical surgery could still be considered for tumors with favorable biological behaviour. In patients with widespread disease, if clinical indicators of possible adrenal involvement are present an adequate palliative therapy should be started, thus ameliorating the quality of life of the patients.
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PMID:Metastatic tumors of the adrenals. 754 30