Clinical and pathomorphological “masks” of adrenocortical cancer. Difficulties of differential diagnostics by the example of own clinical observa-tions

Abstract

Difficulties in the differential diagnostics of adrenocortical cancer (ACC) are due to its heterogeneous clinical and biological behavior, which is based on a complex histogenesis and molecular genetic landscape of adrenocortical cells. In this connection, the “postulate” in the diagnosis and treatment of ACC should be a multidisciplinary approach in centers with experience in adrenal surgery and pathomorphology. The presented own clinical observations of patients with ACC diagnosed during a multiple revision of histological slides and repeated immunohistochemistry including recurrent tumor, illustrates the complexity of differential diagnosis and shows the need for further study of the subcellular mechanisms of adrenocortical oncogenesis underlying its clinical picture, morphology, and expression of valuable specific markers.