Onnicha Suntornlohanakul, Cristina L Ronchi, Wiebke Arlt, Alessandro Prete
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Benign adrenocortical tumours are the most common adrenal neoplasms. Evidence over the past few decades has highlighted sex differences in their prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes. Cortisol-producing adenomas causing either Cushing's syndrome, particularly those with PRKACA or GNAS somatic mutations associated with a more severe phenotype, or mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) are more commonly observed in women. The mechanisms underpinning this sexual dimorphism remain to be fully elucidated. Studies in mice have revealed a protective role of androgens in males, leading to a decelerated growth rate of adrenocortical cells. Furthermore, evidence from human adrenal tumour tissue suggests that oestrogen, progesterone, and luteinising hormone/choriogonadotropin signalling in the adrenal cortex may play a role in adrenal tumourigenesis and steroid production. Clinically, this is supported by the increased incidence of cortisol-producing adrenocortical adenomas or nodular hyperplasia during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Notably, women with MACS seem to be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cortisol excess and carry a higher mortality risk than men. Women with aldosterone-producing adenomas have a higher prevalence of somatic KCNJ5 mutations than men, and patients harbouring these mutations are likely to have more favourable clinical outcomes after adrenalectomy. In this review, we summarise the possible mechanisms behind the sexual dimorphism of benign adrenocortical tumours and provide an up-to-date overview of the sex-specific differences in their prevalence, clinical presentation, and outcomes, focusing on cortisol and aldosterone excess. Considering sexual dimorphism is crucial to guide diagnosis and management, and to counsel these patients for optimised care.
期刊介绍:
European Journal of Endocrinology is the official journal of the European Society of Endocrinology. Its predecessor journal is Acta Endocrinologica.
The journal publishes high-quality original clinical and translational research papers and reviews in paediatric and adult endocrinology, as well as clinical practice guidelines, position statements and debates. Case reports will only be considered if they represent exceptional insights or advances in clinical endocrinology.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to, Adrenal and Steroid, Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Hormones and Cancer, Pituitary and Hypothalamus, Thyroid and Reproduction. In the field of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism we welcome manuscripts addressing endocrine mechanisms of disease and its complications, management of obesity/diabetes in the context of other endocrine conditions, or aspects of complex disease management. Reports may encompass natural history studies, mechanistic studies, or clinical trials.
Equal consideration is given to all manuscripts in English from any country.