There are two adrenal glands in the human body, one above each kidney. They make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones. They have a significant effect on your hair growth, blood pressure, sex desire, and even how you deal with stress.

Adrenal cancer is cancer in which malignant cells on the adrenal glands create tumors. A tumor may originate in the outer layer of your adrenal glands, known as the cortex. The tumor might also grow in the center, known as the medulla.

Adrenal cortex tumors are classified as

• Adenomas, also known as an adrenocortical adenoma (ACA), are benign tumors.
• Carcinomas, also known as adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), are malignant
  (cancerous) tumors

Adrenal Cancer Statistics:

Adrenal tumors are quite common. They affect around 3–10% of individuals. The majority of these are ACA.

ACC, on the other hand, is very uncommon. Experts estimate that 1–2 individuals per million are diagnosed with this type of adrenal cancer each year.

Adrenal cancer can develop at any age. However, it is most likely to affect children under the age of five and people in their 40s and 50s.

Treatment For Adrenal Cancer:

Doctors can treat adrenal carcinoma in several ways. Among these are:

1. Surgery (Adrenalectomy):

Adrenal cancer is mostly treated surgically by removing the adrenal gland. If cancer has spread, doctors may also need to remove surrounding lymph nodes.

2. Radiation:

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to target cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used along with other treatments.

3. Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is a type of medication treatment that involves the use of chemicals to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be an option to reduce the growth of cancer in adrenal malignancies that cannot be removed surgically or that recur after the first treatments.

4. Medications:

Doctors most commonly recommend Mitotane (Lysodren), a medication that prevents your adrenal gland from producing hormones. It also kills cancer cells. If there is a chance that the tumor will recur following surgery, your doctor may recommend you this medicine.

Evaluation Of Adrenal Cancer:

Before diagnosing adrenal cancer, a doctor will take a thorough medical history and do a physical examination.

Several tests may be used to diagnose adrenal cancer. These tests may include:

• Blood and urine tests are performed to check for excess adrenal hormones.
• An image-guided adrenal gland biopsy
• CT Scan
• MRI
• A positron emission tomography scan
• Adrenal vein sampling

References:
1. Jeronimo. (n.d.). “Adrenal Cancer”. Retrieved from Nih.gov: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546580/
2. Cancer.Org (n.d.). “What Is Adrenal Cancer?” Retrieved from Cancer.org:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/adrenal-cancer/about/what-is-adrenal-cortical-cancer.html
3. Cedars-sinai. (n.d.). “Adrenal Cancer: Overview”. Retrieved from Cedars-sinai.org/:
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/a/adrenal-cancer-overview.html

The thyroid gland is present right beneath the voice box. The thyroid gland secretes hormones that assist regulate your body’s functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.

Follicular cells, which produce and store thyroid hormones, give rise to papillary thyroid cancer. In normal thyroid parenchyma, papillary cancer can be present as an irregular solid or cystic mass or nodule.

Despite its well-defined features, papillary carcinoma can be either aggressively or subtly invasive. These tumors can quickly spread to other organs.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma can develop at any age, although it most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 30 and 50.

5-Year Relative Survival Rates For Papillary Thyroid Cancer:

• SEER Stage: 5-Year Relative Survival Rate
• Localized: near 100%
• Regional: 99%
• Distant: 75%
• All SEER stages combined: near 100%

Treatment For Papillary Thyroid Cancer:
Your doctor will decide the treatment for thyroid cancer based on the type and stage of the disease. Very minor thyroid tumors with minimal risk of spreading throughout the body may not require immediate treatment.

The following treatments are available for papillary thyroid cancer:

1. Surgery:
The majority of people with thyroid cancer have their thyroid removed during surgery.
Depending on your situation, your doctor will recommend one of the following operations for you:

A. Thyroidectomy (Removal Of All Or Most Of The Thyroid):
A procedure to remove the thyroid gland may include removing all (total thyroidectomy) or most of the thyroid tissue (near-total thyroidectomy)

B. Thyroid Lobectomy (Removal Of A Part Of The Thyroid):
During a thyroid lobectomy, the surgeon removes half of the thyroid. It may be advised if you have slow-growing thyroid cancer in one portion of your thyroid but no abnormal nodules in the other parts of your thyroid.

C. Lymph Node Dissection (Removal Of Lymph Nodes In The Neck):
When your thyroid is removed, the surgeon may also remove surrounding lymph nodes in the neck.

2. Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Ablation:
Because surgery alone can cure cancer, this step is not necessary for everyone. This is usually a one-time procedure in which you take a tablet containing radioactive iodine. Any remaining thyroid cells absorb the iodine, which destroys them.

3. Thyroid Hormone Therapy:
After a thyroidectomy, you may be advised to take the thyroid hormone medicine levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, and others) for the rest of your life.

4. External Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy can also be done externally using high-energy beams on specific areas.

5. Targeted Drug Therapy:
Thyroid cancer targeted drug therapy inhibits the signals that signal cancer cells to grow and divide. It is primarily used in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer.

Risk Stratifications For Papillary Thyroid Cancer:

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) Risk Stratification System is widely used by doctors. It enables the doctor to assess the probability of recurring cancer. It also assists determine what kind of therapy, if any, is required following surgery.
1. Low Risk:
It is classified as low-risk if it:

• Is only in the thyroid
• Has not spread to surrounding tissues or other regions of the body
• Is 4 cm or less
• Is not an aggressive

2. Intermediate Risk:
It is classified as intermediate risk when

• An aggressive form has developed through the thyroid and into tissues around the thyroid
• Has expanded to at least 5 lymph nodes in the neck and
• Has vascular invasion

3. High Risk:
It is classified as high-risk

• When cancer has spread to other areas of the body (distant metastases)
• Cancer has progressed to lymph nodes and
• Any lymph node with malignancy of 3 cm in diameter or bigger.

References:
1. ATA. (n.d.). “American Thyroid Association® (ATA) Guidelines And Surgical
Statements”. Retrieved from Thyroid.org:

ATA Guidelines & Statements

2. Bryan. (n.d.). “2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines For Adult
Patients With Thyroid Nodules And Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The American
Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force On Thyroid Nodules And Differentiated
Thyroid Cancer”. Retrieved from Nih.gov:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739132/
3. CTC. (n.d.). “Papillary Thyroid Cancer”. Retrieved from Colombiasurgery.org:
https://columbiasurgery.org/conditions-and-treatments/papillary-thyroid-cancer
4. Gary. (n.d.). “Symptoms, Treatments, And Prognosis For Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma”.
Retrieved from Endocrineweb.com:
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/papillary-cancer