Carcinoma, Adrenal Cortical

A malignant neoplasm of adrenal cortical cells demonstrating partial or complete histological and functional differentiation. They are rare, comprising between only 0.05% and 0.2% of all cancers. Women develop functional adrenal cortical carcinomas more commonly than men, but men develop nonfunctioning ones more often than women. Hypercortisolism is the most common presentation for this cancer. Virilism and Cushing's syndrome may also result. (From DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1286)