Pathology, Classification, and Differential Diagnosis

ACC overview

ACC pathology becomes easier to navigate when core morphology is separated from variant histologies and from the difficult differential between cortical carcinoma, borderline cortical tumors, and noncortical mimics.¹²³

Diagnostic Map

Core Morphology of ACC

These studies define the canonical gross and microscopic hallmarks of ACC, including necrosis, mitotic activity, invasion, and architectural disorder.¹²³

Grouped note: Core Morphology of ACC

Histologic Variants of ACC

This cluster covers oncocytic, myxoid, sarcomatoid, and other unusual morphologic variants that complicate standard diagnostic rules.¹²³

Grouped note: Histologic Variants of ACC

Distinguishing ACC From Adenoma and Borderline Cortical Tumors

These papers are centered on the cortical differential, especially tumors of uncertain malignant potential and lesions that sit near diagnostic thresholds.¹²³

Grouped note: Distinguishing ACC From Adenoma and Borderline Cortical Tumors

Noncortical and Metastatic Mimics of ACC

This note groups the literature on renal, metastatic, medullary, or other noncortical lesions that can imitate ACC.¹²³

Grouped note: Noncortical and Metastatic Mimics of ACC

How to Read This Literature

The grouped notes below help researchers follow how diagnosis moves from morphology to exclusion of look-alike lesions.¹²³

See Also

• diagnostic_scoring_and_grading_systems
• immunohistochemistry_and_molecular_pathology

References

Footnotes

1. Androgen producing adrenocortical carcinoma.. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histol. 1978. PMID: 208228. Local full text: 208228.md ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

2. The pathology of adrenocortical neoplasia: a correlated structural and functional approach to the diagnosis of malignant disease.. Hum Pathol. 1979. PMID: 422187. Local full text: 422187.md ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

3. Adrenocortical neoplasms. Prognosis and morphology.. Urology. 1975. PMID: 1129901. Local full text: 1129901.md ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶