Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm consisting of epithelial-glandular cells, this is the name of tumors that affect the glands of the human body during their growth. Almost all organs of the human body consist of glandular and epithelial cells. It is known that all adenocarcinomas have the ability to produce secretory fluids, which is why among these tumors there is a classification by the substances that these tumors produce - mucous-secretory and serous.

Also, this type of tumors are classified by the type and location of cells inside them - these are papillary and follicular. Adenocarcinomas can also be dense or cystolary, in other words, hollow. This type of tumor can take on a variety of sizes and shapes, which often depend on the structure and functionality of the cells and tissues of the affected organ.

They arise as a result of poor nutrition, negative environmental factors, sometimes it can be a genetic predisposition or serious diseases suffered earlier. To date, the causes of adenocarcinomas and the stages of their formation remain not fully understood.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Causes of adenocarcinoma

The causes, as well as the occurrence of other types of cancer, have not been fully studied to date, but according to statistics, most cases of cancerous tumors are associated with stagnation of mucous secretion and its subsequent inflammation in one or another organ or cavity of the human body. There are still many blank spots in the study of cancer cell proliferation and the speed of its spread throughout the body through metastasis.

As mentioned above, the causes of adenocarcinoma are associated with stagnation and inflammatory processes associated with mucus in the body. The most common cause of adenocarcinoma is considered to be poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. Also among the causes of occurrence are past illnesses and hereditary factors.

If we determine the cause of adenocarcinoma associated with a specific organ, it is worth noting that in the pancreas this type of tumor begins to develop due to smoking and chronic pancreatitis.

Gastric adenocarcinoma can occur in the case of its infection by the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori and disturbances in the structure of the epithelium of the gastric mucosa, chronic gastric ulcers, polyps or Menetrier's disease.

Colon adenocarcinoma may occur as a result of working with asbestos, frequent anal sex, human papillomavirus infection, or old age. Colitis, polyps, long-term constipation, villous tumors, fistulas, and other chronic diseases may also cause this type of tumor in the colon.

Prostate adenocarcinoma can be provoked by genetic predisposition, age-related hormonal changes, and chronic cadmium intoxication of the body, nutrient imbalance, or the presence of the XMRV virus can also cause adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma can affect different organs in the human body under the influence of many different factors, such as poor nutrition, lack of fresh vegetables and fruits, a lot of fatty, sweet, flour and meat, eating a lot of smoked products containing polycyclic carbohydrates. An important factor in the occurrence of adenocarcinoma is heredity or the presence of similar diseases in relatives, as well as the consequences of nervous stress, surgical interventions, living in a contaminated radioactive zone, obesity or the negative impact of all kinds of chemicals.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Symptoms of adenocarcinoma

At the beginning of the disease are practically not noticeable, this insidious disease proceeds unnoticed and for quite a long time the person does not feel any discomfort. When the tumor gradually begins to increase in size, the patient begins to feel the first symptoms of adenocarcinoma. Symptoms include changes in stool, changes in eating habits, some discomfort after eating, if the tumor is in the gastrointestinal tract. The next symptoms are a sharp loss of weight and abdominal volume, as well as painful sensations in the area of the affected organ, then peritonitis, anemia and non-infectious jaundice.

When adenocarcinoma affects any organ in the human body, patients experience, as mentioned above, weight loss, a decrease in red blood cells, general weakness of the body, rapid fatigue, drowsiness, unpleasant pain at the site of the tumor, enlarged lymph nodes, and sleep disturbances.

In case of adenocarcinoma of the pharynx or nasal cavity, the signs of the disease are weight loss and loss of appetite, pain in the nose, larynx or pharynx, and often an unpleasant feeling of a "scratched throat". Also, a symptom of laryngeal adenocarcinoma may be persistent redness and swelling of the tonsils, pain when swallowing, which turns into ear pain, speech impairment and enlargement of the lymph nodes or salivary glands.

Adenocarcinoma of the uterus

This is a neoplasm that develops on the inner layer of the uterus and from its cells. The main causes of endometrial adenocarcinoma of the uterus are considered to be obesity, diabetes, hypertension. Also, the cause may be diseases that cause complications in the ovaries, for example, increased levels of female sex hormones estrogens, infertility, treatment of breast cancer for more than five years, in some cases using a drug such as Tamoxifen.

Uterine adenocarcinoma has the following clinical manifestations and symptoms. These may be chronic aching back pain in the lumbar region. Sometimes such symptoms are uterine bleeding during menopause, appearing after fairly long breaks. The latter symptom is always considered by specialists as a sign of adenocarcinoma until proven otherwise. Prolonged and heavy bleeding in young women may also be a sign of adenocarcinoma.

Unfortunately, adenocarcinoma has a worse prognosis compared to other types of cancer affecting the cervix or its cavity. This is determined by the ability of the tumor to penetrate into tissues to a great depth, which can significantly complicate the diagnosis of this disease. In the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the uterus, complex therapy is often used, which involves surgical intervention and the use of radiological irradiation.

[ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ], [ 18 ]

Endometrial adenocarcinoma

It tends to develop in the outer lining of the uterus. This condition most often affects women before or after menopause.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma appears as an exophytic nodule capable of growing into the myometrium. The surface of the tumor is an uneven area of glandular tissue covered with ulcers. Today, endometrial cancer is classified based on microscopic examination.

The causes of endometrial adenocarcinoma include infertility and menstrual irregularities due to anovulation leading to decreased progesterone secretion. Also among the causes of endometrial cancer are the absence of pregnancy and childbirth, late menopause after 52 years, diabetes, heredity and obesity. Stein-Leventhal syndrome, ovarian tumors, improper hormone treatment in the postmenopausal period due to long-term estrogen intake can also cause endometrial adenocarcinoma. Studies have shown that taking Tamoxifen for the treatment of breast tumors for more than 5 years can also cause endometrial cancer.

The main symptoms of endometrial adenocarcinoma are heavy and painful bleeding during menopause or in the period immediately before it. The size of the uterus, as a rule, can remain normal. But, sometimes the size can vary between decreasing or increasing, since the pathology in most cases affects only the upper layers of the uterus.

[ 19 ], [ 20 ], [ 21 ], [ 22 ]

Adenocarcinoma of the cervix

Characterized by the presence of a malignant neoplasm in the layers of the endocervix. The prognosis for the treatment of this disease is often unfavorable. At the second stage of this oncology, the five-year survival rate is only 37% to 50%, and at the first stage, the survival rate is 82%. The unfavorable prognosis for adenocarcinoma of the cervix may be due to the fact that in most cases this disease is diagnosed based on histological rather than clinical studies, which significantly complicates the diagnosis.

The treatment of this disease also has an unfavorable prognosis. After all, large tumors often have very low sensitivity to radiation therapy, which explains the catastrophically high incidence of relapses.

Cervical adenocarcinoma has a more favorable prognosis with combined treatment methods, with the simultaneous use of surgical treatment and radiological irradiation. The benefit of combined treatment methods is also indicated by an increase in the percentage of patient survival.

[ 23 ], [ 24 ], [ 25 ]

Vaginal adenocarcinoma

It mainly occurs against the background of adenosis localized in the vagina, and is a very rare malignant pathology in the female reproductive system. Statistics indicate that this oncology occurs in one out of a thousand cases of vaginal neoplasms detected in women.

When examined using optical diagnostic tools, the tumor is visualized as a collection of cells with light-colored cytoplasm, which therefore form light stripes. This occurs because glycogen in the cells dissolves, while the nucleus remains expressive. Occasionally, cysts or tubes are observed that are covered with flat, cylindrical cells, or nail-like cells with bulbous nuclei.

In order to establish an accurate and unambiguous diagnosis of vaginal adenocarcinoma, it is necessary to differentiate it from the Arias-Stella phenomenon and microglandular hyperplasia that often accompany vaginal adenosis. For treatment, one of the following methods is prescribed: radiation therapy, or a more radical method of bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, vagiectomy.

The prognosis of this disease is that from 15 to 40 percent of tumor formations at stages 1 and 2 spread to the lymph nodes. Favorable factors for healing from this oncological pathology of the vagina are the patient's age, detection of the disease at its early stages, tubular-cystic structure and small tumor size with shallow invasion, absence of metastases to the lymph nodes of regional localization.

[26], [27], [28], [29]

Ovarian adenocarcinoma

This is one of the rare types of ovarian cancer, comprising only 3% of all epithelial ovarian tumors. This disease has become one of the most unfavorable malignant oncologies and has the highest mortality rate among women affected by this disease.

To date, malignant oncological neoplasms of the ovaries have been poorly studied due to the fact that this disease is quite rare. Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary has been under-monitored, which today prevents the establishment of a complete and clinically correct diagnosis. Due to its rarity, this oncology does not allow its morphological parameters to be fully studied, which, if fully studied, could have a beneficial effect on the methods of treating this disease and the prognosis.

The morphological parameters of clear cell ovarian adenocarcinoma, which to varying degrees may influence treatment methods and the outcome of the disease, have not been fully studied. Clear cell ovarian adenocarcinoma has a worse prognosis compared to serous cystadenocarcinoma, even if they are located in the same location.

Like other types of adenocarcinoma, ovarian cancer is asymptomatic, which makes early diagnosis of this disease impossible. In 80 cases out of 100, ovarian adenocarcinoma is diagnosed, as a rule, at stage 3 or 4 of the disease. The result of treatment of clear cell ovarian cancer also remains disappointing due to its low sensitivity to chemotherapy, even with the use of drugs containing platinum. The search for new treatment regimens to date does not give the same results as surgical treatment, which removes the entire ovary affected by the tumor, or part of it.

[30], [31], [32]

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland

According to research, prostate adenocarcinoma shortens a man's life by up to 10 years. This malignant neoplasm is usually divided into types: small acinar, highly differentiated, poorly differentiated, papillary, solid-trabecular, endometrioid, glandular-cystic and mucus-forming.

Prostate adenocarcinoma is one of the most common cancers developing in men. To date, the causes of adenocarcinoma damage to any human organ have not been fully studied. However, according to studies, patients who have had prostate diseases have a higher risk of developing adenocarcinoma than other subjects.

Prostate adenocarcinoma, as the tumor grows in size, may be accompanied by problems during urination, such as a weak stream, frequent urge to urinate, or even incontinence. With further tumor growth, sharp or, conversely, nagging pains in the prostate area, the presence of blood in the seminal fluid or urine are noted.

In modern medicine, with the help of the early diagnostic method, it has become much easier to determine the presence of a malignant tumor at its early stage. This helps to avoid the destruction of the prostate capsule and the spread of this type of oncology through metastases. Such diagnostics helps to perform gentle surgical treatment with the preservation of important nerves responsible for erection and urination. Unfortunately, in the prognosis for the progressive stage of prostate adenocarcinoma, it should be noted that surgical treatment gives results only for a certain time, after which the disease is often possible to return.

The causes of prostate adenocarcinoma can be quite varied, for example, one of the factors influencing the occurrence of prostate adenocarcinoma is the advanced age of a man, also the cause of this disease can be poor heredity or genetic predisposition, cadmium poisoning, nutrient imbalance or the presence of a rare XMRV virus.

Prostate adenocarcinoma, like other types of cancer, is asymptomatic at the initial stage. Often, pronounced symptoms appear only in the last stages of the disease. Among the symptoms of this disease, there is severe pain in the pelvis, lower back, ribs and spine. Also, symptoms often include general weakness of the whole body, incontinence, frequent urination, which is noted for a long duration and is accompanied by severe pain. Often these symptoms can be a manifestation of prostatitis or prostate adenoma, which is why these diseases must be differentiated from adenocarcinoma in order to make a correct diagnosis in time.

[33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38]

Lung adenocarcinoma

Often occurs in about 60 cases out of 100 oncologies affecting the human lungs. It should be noted that this form of cancer in most cases affects the lungs of women, not men, and its occurrence does not depend on smoking, like other oncological diseases of the lungs. The size of this neoplasm can vary from a tiny nodule to a tumor affecting all the lungs. The survival rate of patients with this diagnosis for 5 years is about 20 cases out of 100, but the survival rate of patients who have undergone lung resection increases significantly and is 50 or even 80 cases out of 100.

Lung adenocarcinoma is classified by a fairly large number of neoplasms, such as: common, papillary, solid, poorly differentiated and bronchopulmonary. The choice of treatment method for a patient may depend on the type and classification of the neoplasm, as well as on the rate of its spread and growth.

At the initial stage, as in other cases of adenocarcinoma, this lung cancer is asymptomatic. Among the primary symptoms, it is necessary to note the abundant secretion of mucus and sputum, which as the disease progresses can become purulent and even contain blood clots. The patient begins to cough, and if at first the cough is dry and infrequent, then as it progresses it becomes irritating and strained, also among the symptoms it is necessary to note the causeless increase in temperature, which can return to normal for a short time with the use of antipyretic drugs.

This form of lung cancer is accompanied by general weakness of the body, depression, sudden weight loss, feelings of shortness of breath and dyspnea, even in a calm state. And for its treatment, complex surgical operations are used, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which will help to avoid relapse.

Bronchial adenocarcinoma

This is a malignant neoplasm affecting the goblet cells of the bronchial mucosa. This tumor is often diagnosed as lung cancer in non-smokers, which is asymptomatic.

Bronchial adenocarcinoma is diagnosed by X-ray examination, 65% of patients have X-rays with a peripheral round shadow, and approximately 40% of patients have a tumor located in the center, also about 15% of patients have X-rays during diagnosis, which very clearly show tumor growth into the chest.

Bronchioloalveolar neoplasm is a variant of adenocarcinoma, which can most often be diagnosed by an X-ray image that has small darkenings against the background of which areas in the form of stripes or multiple foci of shadow are visible. This X-ray image can sometimes resemble pneumonia or chronic bronchitis.

The most significant symptom of bronchial adenocarcinoma is abundant sputum secretion with coughing and expectoration. Microscopic examination of sputum often reveals degenerated glandular structures and mucus. The tumor usually grows by transforming the cells of the interalveolar septa. The tumor tends to grow rapidly and within six months its size can double. This type of oncology is also prone to early metastasis; metastases are primarily carried by the bloodstream to the bones, brain and spinal cord, and can also affect the liver and adrenal glands.

[39], [40], [41], [42]

Adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland

This is a malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. Symptoms of salivary gland cancer are pain, high degree of damage to nearby tissues and nerves of the face, often there is paresis of the facial muscles.

Adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland is considered the most common type of cancer of this gland. Among the types of cancer of the salivary glands, adenocarcinoma is the most common. This type of tumor spreads intensively through metastases to nearby lymph nodes, the spine, and even the lungs.

Diagnosis of salivary gland adenocarcinoma is performed using X-ray and laboratory tests. Treatment of salivary gland cancer in most cases is based on surgical intervention, which involves removal of the gland and surrounding tissue affected by the tumor. Preoperative irradiation is widely used to treat salivary gland adenocarcinoma. Homotherapy is very rarely used to treat this type of cancer and is considered ineffective.

[43], [44], [45], [46]

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

This is a cancer that degenerates cells of the pancreatic duct. This type of cancer is more common in men, and it often affects the pancreas of smokers 2 times more often than non-smokers. Patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis are also at risk. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is often diagnosed in patients aged 55 and older; in patients under the age of fifty, this type of cancer is much less common.

Pancreatic cancer in the early stages, like other types of adenocarcinoma, is asymptomatic until it reaches a certain size, but by that time the tumor metastasizes into nearby lymph nodes and neighboring organs (lungs, liver or kidney).

The most common symptoms of this disease are pain in the upper abdomen radiating to the back, and weight loss. Patients also experience jaundice, itching, and skin rashes. One of the symptoms may be an enlarged spleen and varicose veins of the stomach and esophagus. All these pathologies are often diagnosed by ultrasound. Varicose veins in some severe cases can develop into ruptured veins and venous bleeding.

Liver adenocarcinoma

It is divided into two types - primary adenocarcinoma and secondary adenocarcinoma. Primary adenocarcinoma is adenocarcinoma that began directly in the liver. Secondary is adenocarcinoma that has metastasized to the liver from another organ; this type of adenocarcinoma is the most common.

There are many factors that can trigger liver cell adenocarcinoma, including previous infections, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C, two viruses that can cause subsequent cirrhosis or destruction of liver structure. Patients who suffer from alcoholism, or people who are constantly exposed to chemicals such as vinyl chloride, are at risk. Liver adenocarcinoma can be triggered in patients who have elevated iron levels in the blood.

The symptoms of liver adenocarcinoma are quite varied and somewhat similar to the symptoms of other types of adenocarcinoma. Patients experience sudden and severe weight loss, nausea and abdominal pain, chills or fever. Many patients suffer from swelling of the abdomen or legs. Another symptom may be jaundice or partial yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

According to statistics, it is one of the rarest types of malignant neoplasms with a very high mortality rate. Most often, malignant oncology of the esophagus occurs in men and in residents of Iran, China, Afghanistan, and Mongolia.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma often occurs in smokers and people who abuse alcohol. Also, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus develops as a result of nitrites, fungal toxins found in pickles, and in opium smokers. Esophageal cancer occurs as a result of a critical iron deficiency in the Plummer-Vinson and Paterson-Brown-Kelly symptoms.

Adenocarcinoma occurs in the distal esophagus and degenerates esophageal cells. The disease most often occurs in people with excess weight and unhealthy obesity. Symptoms include dysphagia of food, sudden weight loss, regurgitation of eaten food, inflammation of the lymph nodes, and tracheal fistulas may develop.

[47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52]

Gastric adenocarcinoma

Today, gastric adenocarcinoma is one of the most common oncologies and, unfortunately, is characterized by the highest level of fatal outcomes. The main causes of gastric adenocarcinoma are a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, excessive consumption of salty, spicy, fried, fatty and smoked foods, drinking strong alcoholic beverages, smoking, and hereditary predisposition. Also, the cause of this disease is considered to be surgical intervention, in particular, gastric resection, duodenal-gastric reflux, damage to the stomach by the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori, under the influence of which histological changes and tissue dysplasia occur in the gastric mucosa.

According to Bormann's classification, gastric adenocarcinoma is divided into several forms, such as polypoid cancer, which occurs in 5% or 7% of patients suffering from gastric adenocarcinoma; the prognosis for this type of adenocarcinoma is often favorable.

Modern medicine, following Bormann's classification, identifies several possible forms of adenocarcinoma development:

Polypoid carcinoma is a tumor that occurs in 5-7% of patients with adenocarcinoma. Polypoid carcinoma has clear tumor boundaries and does not cause ulcers.

Ulcerative carcinoma – these tumors resemble a small round ulcer in appearance. The prognosis for this type of tumor is favorable in one out of three cases.

Partial ulcerative carcinoma - this type of tumor does not completely cover the area of the affected organ with an ulcer, but tends to grow deeper into the tissue and spread quickly through the formation of metastases.

Scirrhus - this neoplasm tends to grow into the stomach wall, affects large areas of the stomach and provokes its motor functions. During surgery, this tumor can be difficult to separate.

The symptoms of gastric adenocarcinoma have various origins and can be quite complex. Their definition is based on the specific location of the tumor and the stage at which the pathological process is located. The most frequently occurring symptoms of adenocarcinoma are: loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, severe pain in the epigastric region, frequent feeling of premature satiety, or a feeling of fullness in the stomach when there is no food there. Other symptoms include unexplained attacks of nausea or vomiting, sometimes vomiting of clotted blood, the so-called "vomiting coffee grounds", difficulty swallowing, and changes in feces. From the nervous system, depression, asthenia and anemia are observed. The progression of symptoms depends on the size of the tumor. As its size increases, the symptoms tend to intensify.

The most effective method of treating gastric adenocarcinoma today remains surgical excision of the tumor, the affected parts of the stomach or the entire stomach, as well as the lymph nodes and omentum located near the stomach. Sometimes, if there is a suspicion that the adenocarcinoma has affected the spleen or pancreas, these organs are also removed during surgery.

Intestinal adenocarcinoma

It is a malignant neoplasm that can grow quickly and quite aggressively and invade surrounding organs and tissues. This form of cancer is considered the most common in the intestine. The intestine consists of several sections - the cecum, sigmoid, colon, descending, ascending, transverse, rectum. Adenocarcinoma can affect any part of the intestine.

The main causes of intestinal adenocarcinoma are considered to be poor nutrition, when the diet includes a large amount of animal proteins and fats, and excludes fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy fiber. Also, one of the reasons is considered to be a sedentary lifestyle, old age and genetic predisposition.

When diagnosing intestinal adenocarcinoma, it should be differentiated from polyposis and other intestinal diseases. Often, a positive prognosis and effective treatment can occur in the case of a timely and correct diagnosis.

Surgical treatment is often used to treat intestinal adenocarcinoma, which involves excision and removal of the affected part of the intestine, and if nearby organs are affected, they are also subject to removal. In order to avoid relapse of the disease, complex treatment can be used along with surgical treatment. Radio- and chemotherapy are also used. In the early stages of the disease and with timely diagnosis, it is possible to cure the patient and avoid relapse.

[53], [54], [55], [56], [57]

Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine

This is a malignant neoplasm, localized most often in the initial section of the small intestine and ileum. This disease manifests itself depending on the consistency and nature of the tumor. In the case of annular adenocarcinoma, the narrowing of the intestinal lumen progresses, which develops intestinal obstruction. The tumor grows due to the degeneration of intestinal mucosa cells. The infiltrating form of adenocarcinoma can spread along the entire length of the intestine in areas quite distant from each other; during growth, the tumor does not capture the entire circumference of the intestine.

Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine has similar symptoms as tumors in other parts of the intestine. Among the symptoms are intestinal dysfunction, frequent diarrhea, alternating with constipation, and abdominal pain. As the tumor develops, intestinal obstruction, bleeding, general weakness of the body, vomiting, and loss of appetite may occur.

To diagnose this disease, X-rays and a contrast study using barium per os are used, which will help to identify a narrowing of the intestinal lumen. During laboratory tests, the presence of hidden blood particles in the feces is checked, and laboratory tests are also carried out to increase indican in the urine, and to identify anemia and proliferation of leukocytes in the blood.

Adenocarcinoma of the Vater nipple

It involves several tumors that form a group united by the place of development, but at the same time having different origins. This type of cancer is localized in the distal part of the bile duct and can spread to the duodenum, it also has a fairly large number of symptoms.

Adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater initially arises in the tissue structure of the ampulla of Vater, where it gets from the duodenum. The tumor can arise from the epithelium of the pancreatic duct, and also cause degeneration of cells of the glandular tissue of the pancreas. This type of tumor has a low tendency to grow and is often small in size. In cases where the malignant formation grows, it can spread to the liver and other nearby organs and lymph nodes through metastases.

The causes of the occurrence of adenocarcinoma of the Vater's papilla have not been fully studied, but it has already been proven that one of the causes of this oncology may be hereditary polyposis, or a mutation of the K-ras gene. The main symptoms of the disease include sudden weight loss up to anorexia, chronic jaundice, skin itching, vomiting, digestive dysfunction, pain in the anterior upper abdomen, and in the later stages, pain may radiate to the back. Also among the symptoms are a sudden causeless increase in body temperature and blood in the feces.

[58], [59], [60], [61]

Colon adenocarcinoma

This is a collection of malignant neoplasms of different locations, consistency and structure located in the rectum, colon and cecum. A higher percentage of this type of cancer occurs in residents of economically prosperous countries. Over the past 25 years, the number of cases in these countries has doubled.

Colon adenocarcinoma causes the intestinal mucosa cells to degenerate, which leads to the emergence and growth of a malignant neoplasm. As is known, almost all malignant tumors develop in the same way, but each individual type of cancer has some features of its course. One of the first differences is that the tumor grows quite slowly, and may not go beyond the intestines for quite a long time, but during tumor growth, the surrounding tissues tend to become inflamed, which creates favorable conditions for the spread of cancer to other tissues and organs.

Often, together with the main tumor, several secondary neoplasms appear, which do not metastasize at the first and second stages of development. Metastases of adenocarcinoma tend to be carried by the blood to nearby lymph nodes and organs, often the liver is most often affected, and there have even been cases when metastases were found even in the lungs with intestinal cancer. A feature of this type of adenocarcinoma is the occurrence of several neoplasms in different parts of the organ simultaneously or in turn.

Colon adenocarcinoma affects the mucous membrane of the colon and, changing the cells of the mucous membrane, can grow through the intestinal lining into the abdominal cavity. Among the symptoms of this oncology, patients note periodic pain in the abdomen, changes in stool (in particular, alternating diarrhea and constipation), and loss of appetite. Very often, colon cancer in the initial stages of its development is usually differentiated from colon polyposis. As adenocarcinoma progresses, blood clots, mucus, and sometimes even purulent discharge may begin to appear in the patient's feces. All symptoms tend to progress with the growth of the tumor, which after a while can even be felt through the anterior wall of the peritoneum during palpation. Nausea and causeless bouts of vomiting may also appear.

Colon adenocarcinoma has a tendency to rapidly ulcerate, due to the fact that it is constantly exposed to chemical and mechanical effects of feces. At this stage, infection of the body begins to develop, which is accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen, increased body temperature, and intoxication of the entire body. All these factors are reflected in the blood test and can lead in rare cases to peritonitis.

[62], [63]

Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon

Often distinguished by the following stages of process development:

1. No metastases. The neoplasm reaches 15 mm in diameter.
2. Solitary regional metastases. The neoplasm reaches the size of half the diameter of the sigmoid colon and has not yet grown through the outer wall of the intestine.
3. Multiple regional metastases, neoplasm larger than half the diameter of the sigmoid colon. Invasion through the outer wall of the intestine.
4. Multiple distant metastases. The tumor completely closes the lumen of the sigmoid colon. Invasion into nearby organs.

The cause of sigmoid colon cancer is considered to be an excess of meat and animal fats or a lack of fresh vegetables, fruits and fiber in the diet. Also among the causes of sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma are old age, a sedentary lifestyle, constipation of any origin, which can lead to injury of the intestinal mucosa by hard feces. Also at risk are patients suffering from or having had intestinal diseases polyps, terminal ileitis, diverticulosis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, etc. All epidemiological studies prove the existence of a period of precancerous dysplasia of the mucosa.

Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon is characterized by the following symptoms - this may be pain in the iliac region, flatulence, change in stool alternating diarrhea with constipation turning into intestinal obstruction, admixtures of blood, pus and mucus in feces. Often, the latter symptoms are attributed by patients to the presence of hemorrhoids, which delays their visit to the doctor and prevents the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma at an early stage.

Adenocarcinoma of the cecum

It is one of the most common cancers of the intestine. This type of intestinal adenoma is often diagnosed at 50-60 years of age, but according to research, malignant neoplasms can begin to develop in early youth. Adenocarcinoma of the cecum can be provoked by so-called precancerous conditions, for example, with villous polyps or chronic proctitis, it has been proven that polyps most often turn into malignant neoplasms.

Often, the causes of adenocarcinoma of the cecum are unbalanced nutrition with fatty, floury and smoked products in the diet. One of the main causes of adenocarcinoma of the cecum is considered to be old age. People who work in conditions of constant contact with harmful chemicals or asbestos are at risk of developing cancer of the cecum. Malignant neoplasm in the cecum can be hereditary, and anal sex, polyposis, villous tumors and the presence of papillomavirus in the body are also considered to be the cause of cancer of the cecum.

Unfortunately, there is currently no prevention of adenocarcinoma of the cecum. After all, it is almost impossible to recognize oncology in the intestine, and only a very experienced specialist can diagnose it. Often, adenocarcinoma of the intestine is diagnosed already at stage 3 or 4 of cancer, and it is impossible to predict the occurrence of this disease.

[64], [65], [66], [67], [68], [69]

Adenocarcinoma of the rectum

This is a terrible scourge of almost all civilized countries. Often this disease affects the intestines of people over 50 years old. To date, researchers have not been able to determine the causes of this disease. But, according to scientific research, people who do not adhere to proper nutrition, consume large amounts of meat and whose diet is practically devoid of fiber are at risk.

Rectal adenocarcinoma is also observed in people who, due to their work, deal with asbestos. There is a risk of developing rectal adenocarcinoma in people suffering from any kind of inflammation of the rectum or human papillomavirus, as well as having polyposis of the rectum or preferring anal sex. This is why the chances of developing rectal adenocarcinoma are so high among passive homosexuals who carry or are infected with human papillomavirus.

The main symptoms of rectal adenocarcinoma include the discharge of blood, pus or mucus from the anus, frequent bowel movements or alternating constipation with diarrhea. Unpleasant or painful sensations in the rectum, pain during defecation or false urge to defecate.

Treatment of rectal adenocarcinoma involves surgical intervention. However, surgery can only be performed if the patient has no metastases. Often, surgical treatment is quite radical and involves removing the patient's rectum, and sometimes even the anus.

Adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland

This is a malignant neoplasm affecting the glandular tissues of the breast. This disease is currently considered one of the most common female oncologies, it affects one in 13 women in the world aged 20 to 90 years. The main reason is considered to be lower birth rates and shorter breastfeeding periods.

The most effective method for diagnosing breast adenocarcinoma is ultrasound or detecting it with a mammogram. Today, a mammogram is the best diagnostic tool, due to the fact that dying cancer cells release a lot of calcium salts and their heavy compounds, and therefore they are clearly visible during examination.

Adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland requires the main surgical method of treatment, which consists of complete removal of the breast tissue affected by the tumor. Often, in order to exclude relapse, part of the healthy tissue is also removed. During treatment, if the prognosis allows, radiological irradiation of the breast is sometimes used. Combined therapy is prescribed in the case of an invasive form of adenocarcinoma of the mammary glands; together with surgical removal of the affected areas of the breast, radiological irradiation, chemotherapy and, if the tumor is hormone-dependent, hormonal therapy are also used.

[70], [71], [72]

Adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland

It is a malignant disease, which among all cases of oncology is found with a very small prevalence, amounting to 0.3 to 2 percent of their total number. On the other hand, such a neoplasm, appearing in the thyroid gland, is the most common case of malignant lesions that can occur in the endocrine system.

The following factors can lead to the development of such oncological pathology with varying probability.

Malignant thyroid disease in every fifth case appears due to the presence of benign lesions in the patient. These include: atheromatosis, adenoma, nodular goiter, chronic thyroiditis.

Those at risk for this oncological disease, due to hereditary factors, are those who have or have had several relatives with medullary thyroid cancer, and the presence of syndromes 2A, 2B of endocrine neoplasia also plays an important role.

Thyroid adenocarcinoma can develop as a result of an unbalanced diet containing foods with a large amount of iodine. Moreover, both insufficient consumption of iodine-containing foods and its insufficient amount in the body can lead to the appearance of malignant pathology in the thyroid gland.

Another factor that can lead to the development of adenocarcinoma in the thyroid gland is the presence of sexually transmitted diseases in women that have become chronic.

The risk of developing cancer is increased by the presence of such a bad habit as smoking, as well as an unhealthy diet and frequent consumption of high-calorie and fatty foods.

[73]

Pituitary adenocarcinoma

This is a malignant neoplasm progressing on this vital and not fully studied gland of the human body. The pituitary gland plays one of the most important key roles in the life of the human body, and produces a huge number of complex hormones necessary for the normal functioning of all organs of the human body. That is why, in the case of any negative impact on the pituitary gland, global hormonal failures in the body occur, which not only negatively affect health, but can also lead to death.

Often, adenocarcinoma of the pituitary gland is localized in its anterior lobe, where there are rapid processes for the creation of many hormones responsible, among other things, for metabolism. The tumor tends to grow rapidly and rapidly multiply metastases that spread throughout the body with the blood and lymph flow. Metastases usually affect the spine and brain, then the liver, lungs and bones.

Pituitary cancer is divided into two types:

• Affecting hormonally active pituitary adenomas.
• Affecting hormonally inactive pituitary adenomas.

The causes of pituitary cancer have not been fully studied, theoretically there are several types of causes for this terrible disease, such as: adverse effects on the fetus during the intrauterine period, the use of hormonal contraceptives, which leads to hormonal imbalance in the body, which in turn causes pituitary cancer.

[74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [81], [82]

Adenocarcinoma of the kidney

Among neoplasms that differ in different localizations, it occurs with a frequency of approximately 2.5%. This disease constitutes the overwhelming majority of cases of all tumor neoplasms that appear in the kidney. This malignant pathology is the most common histotype of kidney oncology. This type of malignant kidney lesion can equally and with equal probability occur in both the right and left kidney, and its occurrence is mainly noted in men from 40 to 70 years old, with a frequency twice as high as in women.

Renal adenocarcinoma is inherently polymorphic, and the mechanisms of its development have not yet been fully elucidated. The following may lead to the development of such oncological pathology to some extent: the presence of kidney diseases - pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis; the consequences of traumatic factors, chemical effects on kidney tissues by aromatic amines, nitrosamines, hydrocarbons; negative effects associated with X-ray radiation, regular intoxication of the body due to such a bad habit as smoking. A significant risk factor for the development of this malignant disease is the presence of hypertension and obesity.

Adenocarcinoma of the adrenal gland

This is a malignant neoplasm that progresses in the cells of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are an important part of our endocrine system. They produce important hormones, such as glucocorticoids, which help people cope with stress, as well as aldosterone, which improves blood pressure control. This is why the occurrence of a tumor in these organs has such a negative impact on human health. Adrenal cancer is considered a rather rare disease and occurs in only one patient out of two million. To date, the cause of adrenal adenocarcinoma is unknown. The average age of patients who develop this disease is about 44 years, but it can occur at any age, even in childhood.

Adrenal adenocarcinoma tends to metastasize early, via the bloodstream and lymph. Metastases are carried to the lungs and other internal organs, but this type of adenocarcinoma very rarely metastasizes to the bones. Symptoms of this disease include excess of certain hormones, headaches, sudden pressure surges, diabetes, and osteoporosis. In cases where the tumor can secrete sex hormones, women may experience changes in the timbre of their voice, facial hair, and men may experience swelling of the mammary glands or genitals. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, and general weakness.

Treatment of adrenal adenocarcinoma involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Often, the adrenal glands are removed during surgery, with excision of surrounding tumor-affected tissue and lymph nodes.

[83]

Adenocarcinoma of the skin

It is a very rare type of cancer that affects the sebaceous and sweat glands. This type of tumor looks like a small, dense nodule that protrudes above the surface of the skin. This malignant neoplasm can ulcerate, bleed, and inflame the surrounding tissue.

Skin adenocarcinoma is usually differentiated from other types of tumors and cellulitis. In order to exclude the spread of adenocarcinoma by metastases, an X-ray examination is usually performed. Also, a biopsy of nearby lymph nodes and cytological examination of the material are used in diagnostics.

Surgical intervention is often used to treat skin adenocarcinoma, which involves removing the tumor and nearby affected areas of skin. If it is impossible to remove part of the tumor surgically, radiological therapy is used.

After removal of skin adenocarcinoma, in most cases, chemotherapy is offered, which, unfortunately, in serious cases may not be as successful.

[84], [85]

Meibomian gland adenocarcinoma

A very special form of oncological damage to the visual organs. Its specificity lies in the fact that in the rest of the human body there are no glands similar to the meibomian glands.

The progress of the disease is characterized by the growth of neoplasms similar to papillomas in the conjunctival zone, along with which the shape of the cartilaginous plates changes. In other cases, tumor formations are formed in the form of "plugs", the localization of which is the mouths of the meibomian glands. This process leads to the appearance of persistent keratitis and conjunctivitis, which are difficult to treat with conventional pharmacological agents. In the future, the development of pathology spreads to the orbit of the eye, and also affects the regional submandibular and parotid lymph nodes. It is possible that abnormal lymph flow to the lymph nodes of the neck will appear.

Adenocarcinoma of the meibomian gland requires mandatory pathohistological analysis of tissue samples obtained by puncture and biopsy, since in the case of a timely and accurate diagnosis, this oncological lesion in some cases can lead to death.

Indications for the initiation of combination therapy, chemotherapy or X-ray radiotherapy are the diagnosis of this malignant disease in the early stages, or radical surgical intervention to remove the oncological neoplasm - respectively, when adenocarcinoma reaches a later and more severe stage.

It is also necessary to take into account that this type of adenocarcinoma is characterized by a tendency to relapse.

[ 86 ], [ 87 ], [ 88 ]

Stages of adenocarcinoma

Despite new technologies and modern diagnostic methods, some stages of adenocarcinoma can still go unnoticed. Adenocarcinoma is currently classified according to the TNM system, which takes into account the size of the primary tumor and the presence or absence of regional and distant metastases.

• Stage T1 – implies a neoplasm that is not detectable by palpation. This stage is divided into three groups:
  • Stage T1a is a well differentiated tumor.
  • Stage T1b is also a highly differentiated tumor; such tumors are being found more and more often today.
  • Stage T1c is usually diagnosed by biopsy.
• Stage T2 is a tumor that can be palpated.
  • Stage T2a is palpated as a small nodule surrounded by tissue that is unchanged to the touch.
  • Stage T2b – a neoplasm that occupies most of the affected organ.
  • Stage T2c – a neoplasm that occupies the entire affected organ.
• Stage T3 corresponds to a tumor that has grown beyond the prostate gland.
• Index N – shows the presence of regional metastases
• Index M - shows the presence of distant metastases.
• Index T - is usually combined with any indices N and M.

Metastasis of adenocarcinoma

Spread through the blood or lymph from a malignant tumor called adenocarcinoma. Laboratory testing can reveal that adenocarcinoma cells often lack complexity and polarity. Adenocarcinoma belongs to the group of highly differentiated cancers. According to the structure of the cells, adenocarcinoma is divided into:

• Tubular.
• Papillary.
• Excise.

Metastases of adenocarcinoma begin to progress and spread throughout the body after the tumor increases in size and begins to grow into nearby organs and tissues; metastases penetrate into neighboring organs through the lumens in the blood and lymphatic vessels.

In most patients with adenocarcinoma, it is impossible to identify the primary focus of the disease. In this regard, for the diagnosis of such patients, ultrasound and CT of the abdominal cavity, colonoscopy, as well as chest X-ray, are mandatory, and a laboratory study of feces for the presence of blood is carried out. If the patient is diagnosed with metastases in the lymph nodes, an ultrasound of the pelvis and mammography are additionally prescribed.

If the patient has multiple metastases, then in this case the prognosis of specialists will be extremely unfavorable, the probability of a fatal outcome is high and the life expectancy of such a patient may not exceed 3-4 months, although in some cases the life expectancy after an established diagnosis may be extended.

In order to ensure that during the treatment of adenocarcinoma, the primary focus of which was not found during diagnosis and to control the growth of metastases and their spread, specialists often use chemotherapy. In the combined treatment of adenocarcinoma, surgical intervention is mandatory, which in this case can be quite radical.

Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma

Currently, it is carried out using various methods. Such diagnostic methods include the use of various special devices and technical means, such as fluoroscopy, endoscopic examination, the use of ultrasound diagnostics, and all kinds of tomography. In addition, one of the most effective ways to help identify the presence of this disease are clinical studies: blood and urine tests for biochemistry and tests for tumor markers.

When adenocarcinoma is diagnosed in a timely manner and the disease is detected at the early stages of pathological progression, this is a very important factor for a positive prognosis for treatment and getting rid of this disease.

If the patient is diagnosed with aderocarcinoma, the choice of the treatment path and method becomes relevant. Here, a medical specialist, based on the localization and severity of the malignant neoplasm, prescribes certain treatment measures. As a rule, the oncologist's recommendations come down to the fact that surgical intervention is required. However, in many cases, it is recommended to perform the operation no earlier than the patients have undergone a preliminary course of general strengthening physiotherapy in order to facilitate the surgical intervention and the postoperative condition.

[ 89 ], [ 90 ], [ 91 ], [ 92 ]

Well differentiated adenocarcinoma

It is one of the forms that this malignant pathology takes. Compared to other types of adenocarcinoma, this variety is characterized by low polymorphism of differentiation at the cellular level. The cells of the affected tissues differ very little from those that are not subject to pathological changes. The main and only distinguishing feature by which one can determine the presence of adenocarcinoma with a high degree of differentiation is that the nuclei of the affected cells increase in length and become larger in size. Due to this feature, diagnosing highly differentiated adenocarcinoma and making an accurate diagnosis can be difficult.

Highly differentiated adenocarcinoma has a favorable prognosis for the course of the disease and a high probability of effective treatment and healing, especially in the case of its early detection. Also, this type of adenocarcinoma is distinguished by the fact that, if it is present in the body, lymphogenous metastasis occurs very rarely and there is a low risk of developing significant complications.

Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma

Similar in the course of the disease to the processes occurring in highly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Its characteristic feature is the appearance of a slightly larger number of cells in which the pathology develops, as well as a higher degree of polymorphism of their changes. This type of oncological disease differs from adenocarcinoma with a high degree of differentiation mainly in that cell division in the lesion occurs at a high rate and a large number of cells participate in mitosis.

Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm that is characterized by greater severity and a significantly increased risk of serious pathologies and the occurrence of all kinds of complications. This type of adenocarcinoma spreads through metastases, which expand the focus of oncological damage through the lymphatic flow pathways in the body and in the lymph nodes. Lymphatic metastasis occurs in approximately every tenth case of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. A factor that plays a significant role in the characteristics of the course of this disease is the age of the patient with the detected adenocarcinoma. Metastases at an age not exceeding 30 years, as a rule, are not observed.

Acinar adenocarcinoma

It is a malignant neoplasm that affects the tissues of the prostate gland. The risk of developing such an oncological pathology is especially high in elderly men, and in some cases, if the course of the disease is accompanied by the development of various complications and pathologies in the prostate, it can lead to death.

Hormonal imbalances in a man's body associated with age-related changes can lead to the development of such oncology. The cause is also a congenital predisposition to this disease at the genetic level. This type of adenocarcinoma can also develop as a result of an unbalanced nutrient content in the body, will appear as a reaction to constant cadmium intoxication, and also under the influence of the XMRV virus.

Today, acinar adenocarcinoma is known as large acinar and small acinar adenocarcinoma. The most common case of this oncological pathology is small acinar adenocarcinoma. It occurs in the vast majority of cases of malignant neoplasms in the prostate.

The symptoms of acinar adenocarcinoma are very similar to those of prostate adenoma. This disease is often detected when the rectum is palpated during the diagnosis of other diseases. Late stages of pathological progression are characterized by pain in the legs, in the lumbar sacral region, pain in the anus, and a feeling of heaviness in the perineum.

[ 93 ], [ 94 ], [ 95 ], [ 96 ], [ 97 ], [ 98 ], [ 99 ]

Endometrioid adenocarcinoma

In many cases, its cause is endometrial hyperplasia, which is provoked by estrogen stimulation. The neoplasm is formed by tubular glands lined with ratified or pseudo-ratified epithelium.

Characteristic features depending on the degree of differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma are: large cell sizes with ovoid nuclei, in which the nucleoli are clearly visible - in highly differentiated adenocarcinoma; in the 2nd histological degree, aggregates of glands are observed, taking a wavy or branched shape, with hypochromic and amorphous cell nuclei; the low-differentiated type is distinguished by striped cell clusters or cells united in groups of irregular shape.

Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is differentiated from cervical adenocarcinoma by its immunonegativity in CEA and immunopositivity to vimentin. The prognosis of the disease depends on the histopathological degree of the neoplasm, the depth of invasion into the lymph space and myometrial tissue, whether the lesion covers the lymph nodes and the cervix with appendages. A favorable prognosis for endometrial adenocarcinoma occurs on the basis that this pathology arose from existing endometrioid hyperplasia, which is predominantly characterized by high differentiation.

Papillary adenocarcinoma

Or distant metastases have such a characteristic feature inherent to them as that metastasis of lymph nodes is characterized by neoplasms that have average sizes exceeding the average size of the tumor arising at the site of the initial localization of the development of the pathological process. This type of adenocarcinoma is visualized as brown with cyanosis formations of spherical shape, which have an elastic consistency.

Metastases that appear in the lymph nodes as a result of papillary adenocarcinoma are purely capillary in structure, and lymph tissues remain preserved inside the node, or their absolute absence can be observed. Differentiation of malignant tumors in metastases is mainly characterized by the correspondence of the initial localization of the occurrence of pathological progress, but in some cases it can be differentiated to a greater extent. Oncological neoplasm in adenocarcinoma of this type is often distinguished by a pronounced follicular component, which can become a negative factor complicating diagnostics due to the similarity to colloid goiter. In this case, such an incorrect diagnosis as aberrant goiter can be made.

[ 100 ], [ 101 ], [ 102 ], [ 103 ]

Serous adenocarcinoma

It is a type of typical endometrial adenocarcinoma, in which the development of oncological pathology is characterized by a more aggressive course. According to medical statistics, it appears with a frequency of 1 to 10 out of every 100 cases of adenocarcinoma. The risk group for the appearance of this malignant neoplasm in the body mainly includes women at an age that is approximately 10 years older than the age range characteristic of typical adenocarcinoma. The onset of malignant pathological progress, as a rule, occurs against the background of endometrioid hyperplasia or hyperestrogenism. This disease is often detected only when it reaches stage 3 or 4.

In the emerging tumor formation, the emergence of branched structures in the form of complex geometric shapes is noted, which are composed of sets of papillae. Papillae are sometimes distinguished by a jagged shape of the apical edge. For cell nuclei, large nucleoli and the presence of significant (3rd) degree of pleomorphism are characteristic.

Serous adenocarcinoma has such a characteristic feature as the possibility of myometriotic invasion, and subsequently - spread by the intraperitoneal type, as in ovarian cancer.

This oncology may show a tendency to recur in the ovaries. Differential diagnostics are carried out in order to separate serous adenocarcinoma from synchronous metastatic tumors, and in some cases it requires differentiation from endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Prognostic factors are favorable when the neoplasm does not spread beyond the endometrium. The most favorable prognosis is represented by cases in which serous adenocarcinoma is distinguished by its mixed type.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma

It is detected with a frequency of 1 to 6.6% of all cases of endometrial cancer. This malignant neoplasm appears mainly in women aged 60-70 years. At the time of this diagnosis, the disease has mostly reached stage 2 or more severe stages of development. When visualized during a macroscopic examination, the tumor formation looks like an endometrioid polyp. Depending on the combination of factors and cell types, the tumor can have either a cystic-tubular or a solid or papillary structure.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma is characterized by a fairly high possibility of myometriotic invasion, and in approximately every fourth case it can spread into the vascular space of the lymph. Clear cell adenocarcinoma must be differentiated from secretory carcinoma and serous adenocarcinoma, as well as endometrial adenocarcinoma, when conducting diagnostics.

The prognosis for the development and treatment of this disease depends on the stage of the pathological process and the extent to which lymphovascular and myometrioid invasion is present. When relapses occur, in most cases the tumors are localized outside the pelvic region - in the upper parts of the peritoneum, in the liver, and lungs.

[ 104 ], [ 105 ], [ 106 ], [ 107 ], [ 108 ]

Mucinous adenocarcinoma

It is a rather rare type of malignant formation. It consists of large extracellular mucin lakes together with epithelial clusters. The tumor is characterized by the predominance of the mucin component in its mass.

The structure of mucinous adenocarcinoma is a nodular formation with no clearly defined boundaries. The tumor consists of neoplastic cells, united in groups - clusters, immersed in cystic cavities separated by connective tissue and filled with a jelly-like fluid. The cells of the tumor formation are cylindrical or cubic in shape, and amorphous ones may also be encountered among them. The cell nuclei are hyperchromatic and have a central location; atypia may be characteristic of the nuclei.

When establishing a differential diagnosis, mucinous adenocarcinoma must be differentiated from cystadenocarcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and a mucin-rich variety of ductal cancer.

The prognostic trends of mucinous adenocarcinoma are manifested in such factors as the fact that it is poorly treatable using X-ray radiological therapy, and there is also a high probability of relapse and spread of metastases to regionally localized lymph nodes.

Invasive adenocarcinoma

It is the most common form of malignant tumor affecting the female mammary gland. Mainly, such an oncological disease occurs in women over 55 years of age.

The development of this neoplasm is characterized by processes of its aggressive growth and expansion of the affected area beyond its initial appearance. Localized first in the milk ducts, the tumor eventually spreads to the surrounding tissues of the mammary gland. The course of the disease over a long period of time can be asymptomatic, and without revealing any obvious manifestations in the form of pain and other unpleasant sensations. Signs of invasive adenocarcinoma in many cases are detected by a woman during a self-examination for lumps in the breast, and subsequently, if there is a suspicion of cancer, the presence of a focus of such pathology can be confirmed as a result of an ultrasound examination of the mammary gland and mammography.

As invasive adenocarcinoma progresses and pathological processes affect the axillary region, swelling initially occurs there. Then distant metastasis occurs, resulting in pain in the back and upper limbs - when metastases occur in the bones, patients complain of general weakness and excessive fatigue. Ascites may develop if metastases appear in the liver, and in the case of metastasis to the brain, epileptic seizures and other neurological symptoms may occur.

Papillary adenocarcinoma

It ranks first in frequency of occurrence among malignant lesions to which the thyroid gland is exposed. It can occur regardless of a person’s age, has the most benign properties, and its treatment does not present serious difficulties compared to other types of adenocarcinoma.

But, despite the generally favorable prognostic characteristics of this oncological pathology in the thyroid gland, there is a possibility of the tumor spreading to regional lymph nodes. Remote metastasis in papillary adenocarcinoma is observed in a relatively small number of cases. In the presence of metastases, the peculiarity is that they retain the same characteristic features of a benign tumor as in the neoplasm in the place where the initial focus of the disease is located.

To treat such oncology as papillary adenocarcinoma, thyroid drugs are used, the appropriate doses of which lead to the fact that the growth processes of the neoplasm are stopped, a tendency to its reduction in size appears, often to the point that the body completely gets rid of its presence.

The state of remission that is achieved in this way can be very long-lasting or even permanent, but with the drying out of the thyroid gland, as well as due to radiation therapy, there is a possibility that adenocarcinoma can transform into an anaplastic type of this cancer. Based on this factor, as a rule, the most justified method of treatment is surgical intervention to remove the tumor.

Follicular adenocarcinoma

It is mainly found in women aged 40-52 years. The development of this malignant disease is characterized by the fact that the thyroid gland increases in size, which is one of the earliest signs of the appearance of such an oncological pathology in the body. This symptom, if it is observed over a long period of time, as a rule - more than 5 years, may indicate the growth of a malignant tumor.

Symptoms of the first signs of follicular adenocarcinoma also occur in the form of distant metastasis, and to a lesser extent - with the appearance of regional metastases. In some cases, damage to the cervical lymph nodes or metastasis to the right or left lung may serve as evidence of the appearance of follicular adenocarcinoma. However, the most common manifestation of this disease is an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, which occurs in most cases.

Follicular adenocarcinoma, when compared to papillary adenocarcinoma, is characterized by a slower progression of the pathological process. Based on this, it can be argued that follicular adenocarcinoma tends to remain within its initial localization for a longer period of time.

[ 109 ], [ 110 ], [ 111 ], [ 112 ], [ 113 ], [ 114 ]

Treatment of adenocarcinoma

In most cases, it is performed using the surgical intervention method. However, before performing the operation, it is necessary to take into account that the body, in which such an oncological lesion as adenocarcinoma is present, is in a weakened state, since it spends a lot of energy, hidden resources and defense mechanisms to maintain life at a sufficient level in the presence of this malignant pathology. Due to this circumstance, many medical specialists prescribe a course of physiotherapeutic drugs to be included in the complex of therapeutic measures in the pre- and postoperative period. Currently, there is a wide variety of pharmacological agents that help to increase the effectiveness of treatment and allow to significantly reduce the space of the required surgical field.

Recently, the treatment of adenocarcinoma using various innovative methods has become increasingly widespread. One of these methods is, in particular, tomotherapy. The thermotherapy system includes the use of a special 3D scanner that provides a volumetric image of the affected area, which ensures high accuracy of intervention planning, with simultaneous computed tomography. Thanks to this, the necessary configuration, precise dosage and clearly defined location of the targeted radiological effect on the tumor are achieved with a minimal risk that healthy tissues will also be affected. This method of treatment is especially effective in applying to lung and esophageal cancer.

Chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma

Just like radiation therapy and radical surgery, it is one of the methods aimed at achieving a cure for this oncological disease. Indications for the final choice of one or another treatment method depend on a set of factors associated with the course and progress of this malignant process. These include what stage it is at and to what extent the tumor is widespread in the body, whether surgical treatment was performed, and how successful its result was.

Chemotherapy after surgery is prescribed if lymph nodes that have been affected by such malignant lesions were detected during surgery. The duration of the course of treatment with chemotherapeutic agents is determined depending on the specific drug used. Such a course can lead to a significant improvement in treatment results. In addition, the likelihood of further development of pathological progress is reduced.

Chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma in its advanced form, at its most severe stages, in the event that surgical treatment is not chosen, or in the event of relapses after some time has passed since the removal of the oncological tumor, is a systemic therapeutic measure that allows both to prolong the patient's life and to improve its quality.

[ 115 ], [ 116 ]

Diet for adenocarcinoma

One of the important factors that can contribute to a favorable prognosis for the development of this disease and successful healing is adherence to a special diet. What is the diet for adenocarcinoma?

Practical recommendations on how to eat when you have cancer, for each of the three stages that make up the special nutritional system, are as follows.

At the first stage, it is prescribed to consume food in one meal in the smallest possible quantity. Its total volume should be calculated so that it does not exceed two tablespoons. At first, this may seem extremely difficult, since the entire diet will consist mainly of liquid porridges: buckwheat, unrefined rice, natural oatmeal, barley with the peel. Porridges should be prepared in the following way:

The grain should be crushed as much as possible in a ratio of one glass per liter of hot water and left to steep overnight in a thermos. There is no need to steep wheat porridge, it can be eaten immediately. In the case of oatmeal or oatmeal porridge, it should be boiled in the morning and rubbed through a sieve with the addition of one teaspoon of honey. In addition to porridge, it is recommended to drink freshly squeezed vegetable juices. Juice from beets, carrots, white cabbage, and celery is especially useful. A drink made from brewed rose hips, flowers, and Jerusalem artichoke leaves has a positive effect on the body.

The second stage of the diet is that carrots, Jerusalem artichoke or beets are boiled or steamed. If desired, you can also eat canned green peas, which must be boiled for 10 seconds after draining all the liquid. Then drain the water again - and it is ready to eat. At this stage, the diet can be supplemented with apples, lemon juice, red currants, onions and garlic.

After two months of the second stage, the diet for adenocarcinoma moves to the third. Now you can gradually start eating all vegetables, fruits, cereals and grains, as well as legumes in addition to the above. It is recommended to give preference to soy and lentils.

[ 117 ], [ 118 ], [ 119 ], [ 120 ], [ 121 ], [ 122 ]

Prevention of adenocarcinoma

To a large extent, it depends on how timely the alarming symptoms are detected that may indicate the onset of this oncological pathology in the body or the onset of a precancerous condition of a particular internal organ. There are many diseases that have symptoms similar to adenocarcinoma, so it is necessary to go for an examination without wasting time in the case when there is a suspicion of the onset of malignant tumor development. And if the differential diagnosis establishes the presence of adenocarcinoma, begin appropriate treatment. Cancer diseases can be successfully cured if they are detected in the early stages by an oncologist and treatment is immediately prescribed using the method that is most justified in each specific case. Be it radiation, chemotherapy, or radical surgery.

The best prevention of adenocarcinoma is mandatory regular examinations, during which signs of approaching cancer are detected. An important preventive factor that helps reduce the risk of developing adenocarcinoma is a healthy and active lifestyle, proper nutrition and maintaining a body mass index within its optimum, as well as the absence of such bad habits as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, the prevention of diseases affecting the reproductive system, against which oncology can develop, is of no small importance.

Prognosis of adenocarcinoma

In the case when the disease is diagnosed in the initial stages of the malignant process, it is favorable to the extent that the alarming signs of the development of a cancerous neoplasm are detected in a timely manner. When appropriate treatment is prescribed, it is characterized by high efficiency. Prognostic factors on which the success of treatment depends are the features of the tumor location in the body, its size, the extent of invasion, whether there is metastasis to regional lymph nodes, and the extent to which the cells that have undergone pathological changes are differentiated.

The prognosis of adenocarcinoma is assessed by a criterion that is common to all oncological diseases - 5-year patient survival. An unfavorable prognosis is the presence of deep invasion. A fatal outcome after 5 years occurs in more than a quarter of all cases of adenocarcinoma with deep invasion. An important prognostic factor, which is extremely negative for the possibility of successful treatment, is the large size of the tumor. A significant role is played by the age at which adenocarcinoma is detected in the patient. In young patients, metastases in regional lymph nodes are more common than in other age periods.