Endocrine System Tumors Health Article

Endocrine system tumors

Pituitary tumors

Thyroid tumors

Parathyroid tumors

Endocrine pancreatic tumors, including gastrinoma, insulinoma, and glucagonoma

Adrenal tumors, including pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical carcinoma

Ovarian tumors

Testicular tumors

Multiple endocrine gland tumors (tumors on several endocrine glands at once)

Many benign and malignant endocrine tumors are treatable with a combination of surgery and medication, and the survival rates for many endocrine cancers is good. Two exceptions are ovarian cancer and adrenocortical carcinoma, a tumor of the adrenal gland. About 50% of ovarian cancer patients and 40% of those diagnosed with an adrenocortical carcinoma will survive five years or more after the initial diagnosis. These cancers have poor survival rates because they are usually first diagnosed after they have spread or reached an advanced stage. Among the different cancers, thyroid cancer and testicular cancer have some of the better 5-year survival rates; both approach 95%.

Symptoms of many endocrine tumors are associated with the excessive secretion of hormones. Hormone-producing tumors are called functional tumors, while those that do not secrete hormones are called nonfunctional tumors. Both types are potentially malignant.

Types of cancers

Proceeding from the head region to the pelvic area, endocrine system tumors include:

• Pituitary tumors. These tumors are classified by the type of hormone they secrete. They are rarely malignant but can cause heath problems, including visual complications. One type of tumor results in Cushing's syndrome.
• Thyroid tumors. Only 5% of the tumors found on the thyroid are malignant. A malignant tumor can indicate one of the four types of thyroid cancer.
• Parathyroid tumors. Around 5% are malignant and result in a diagnosis of parathyroid cancer. Overproduction of parathyroid hormone, a condition known as hyperparathyroidism, is a common condition associated with both benign and malignant tumors. Untreated, hyperparathyroidism can result in osteoporosis (bones become brittle and fracture easily), kidney stones, peptic ulcers, and nervous system problems.
• Endocrine pancreatic tumors. Benign and malignant tumors are often treatable with surgery. Malignant tumors are rare. The most common types of tumors are a gastrinoma, which is associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, insulinoma, and glucagonoma.
• Adrenal tumors. One type of tumor, a pheochromocytoma, is found on the inner part of the adrenal gland (the adrenal medulla). About 10% are malignant. An adrenocortical carcinoma is a malignant tumor on the outer part of the gland (adrenal cortex), and a common symptom is the occurrence of Cushing's syndrome. Both tumors are very rare.
• Ovarian tumors. Tumors can develop in the egg cells inside the ovary (germ cell tumors), but most occur in the cells lining the outside of the ovary, and most of these tumors are benign.
• Testicular tumors. Tumors can occur in one or both of the testes. Over 90% develop in the germ cells and only 4% involve the endocrine cells of the testes.
• Multiple endocrine gland tumors. Some disorders result in the simultaneous occurrence of tumors on several endocrine glands. Many of these are inherited disorders, including multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis.

See Also Adenoma; Craniopharyngioma; >Neuroendocrine carcinomas; Pancreatic cancer, exocrine

Resources

BOOKS

Greenspan, Francis S., and Gordon J. Strewler. Basic and Clinical Endocrinology. Stamford, Conn: Appleton & Lange, 1997.

Wilson, Jean D., Charles Cameron, Daniel W. Foster, Donald W. Seldin, Henry M. Kronenberg, and P. Reed Larsen. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1998.

PERIODICALS

Monson, J. C."The Epidemiology of Endocrine Tumours." Endocrine-Related Cancer 7 (2000): 29-36.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. 1000 Riverside Ave., Suite 205, Jacksonville, FL 32204. (904) 353-7878. <http://www.aace.com>.

OTHER

EndocrineWeb.com 3 July 2001 <http://www.endocrineweb.com>.

Monica McGee, M.S.