Endocrine cancers are tumors arising in hormone secreting organs including the thyroid, pituitary, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.

THYROID CANCER

Thyroid cancers are a group of diseases with differing behaviors, treatments and prognosis. A history of prior radiation exposure is felt to be a predisposing factor for these cancers. The most common types of cancers are (1) Papillary, (2) Follicular, (3) Medullary, and (4) Anaplastic.

Treatments of thyroid cancers depend on the subtype and extent of tumor spread. Surgical resection is frequently part of the initial management. Radiation may play a role in papillary and follicular subtypes, but is generally not used in the other types. Chemotherapy has a minor role in the treatment of patients with disease that has spread.

Thyroid Cancers are not currently treated with transplantation at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, the physicians at the Northern New Jersey Cancer Center are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

PITUITARY TUMORS

Most pituitary tumors are well-localized cancers that do not spread. These tumors may secrete hormones such as prolactin (causing menstrual irregularities and galactorrhea) or growth hormone (causing acromegaly and gigantism).

Treatment of most pituitary tumors involves surgery, or rarely, radiation.

Pituitary Cancers are not currently treated with transplantation at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, the physicians at the Northern New Jersey Cancer Center are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease

PARATHYROID TUMORS

Parathyroid Tumors are rare tumors that may produce parathyroid hormone and cause abnormalities of serum calicium levels. The tumors tend to remain well localized in the neck, rarely spreading to distant sites.

Treatment of Parathyroid Cancer usually involves surgical resection. Neither radiation nor chemotherapy play a major role in the treatment of this disease.

Parathryroid Tumors are not currently treated with transplantation at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, the physicians at the Northern New Jersey Cancer Center are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease

ADERENAL TUMORS

Adrenal tumors are extremely rare with only 150-300 new cases per year. The tumors may or may not secrete hormones, which can cause significant symptoms. The Cushings syndrome results in a swollen face, obesity, high-blood pressure, sugar metabolism problems, and nerve problems. Other tumors may cause hair growth (male patterns) in women or breast swelling in men.

Treatment of adrenal tumors usually begins with surgical removal of the tumor. Chemotherapy may be given for some types. Common drugs include mitotane, metyrapone, aminoglutethamide, or doxorubicin.

Adrenal Tumors are not currently treated with transplantation at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, the physicians at the Northern New Jersey Cancer Center are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease

PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

Pheocyhromocytomas are rare tumors of the adrenal glands that may secrete catacholamine hormones including norepinephrine and/or adrenaline. These tumors may produce high-blood pressure, headaches, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and tremors.

Treatment of Pheochromocytoma begins with surgical resection, with radiation added in patients in whom the entire tumor cannot be removed. Chemotherapy and additional radiation may have a role in tumors that have spread.

Pheochromocytomas are not currently treated with transplantation at Hackensack University Medical Center. However, the physicians at the Northern New Jersey Cancer Center are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease