Adrenal cortical carcinoma in a child, a rare cause of paediatric endocrinopathy: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Adrenal cortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare tumours, most commonly reported in adult patients. However, an important peak in incidence occurs in paediatric patients. ACC is a rare cause of paediatric endocrinopathy which may masquerade as a non-neoplastic disease process. Herein we present ACC in a five-year-old female patient. Histopathological features associated with poor outcome included tumour weight >500 g, tumour size >10.5 cm, invasive properties, confluent tumour necrosis, high nuclear grade and high proliferation index assessed by Ki67 immunohistochemistry. This article focuses on clinical features, treatment, pathological characteristics, evolving classification and genetic significance of ACC in paediatric patients.

Keywords :

• paediatric adrenal cortical carcinoma
• histopathologic diagnostic criteria
• P53