Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting glands throughout the body. It can occur in many different places in the body, and is most prevalent in the following cancer types:

• Lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80 percent of lung cancers, and adenocarcinoma is the most common type.
• Prostate cancer: Cancer that forms in the prostate gland is typically an adenocarcinoma, which makes up 99 percent of all prostate cancers.
• Pancreatic cancer: Exocrine pancreatic cancer tumors are called adenocarcinomas. They form in the pancreas ducts.
• Esophageal cancer: Cancer that forms in the glandular cells of the esophagus is known as adenocarcinoma. This is the most common type of esophageal cancer.
• Colorectal cancer: Cancer that develops in the intestinal gland cells that line the inside of the colon and/or rectum is an adenocarcinoma. It makes up 95 percent of colon and rectal cancers.

Adenocarcinoma can also develop elsewhere in the body.

Diagnosing adenocarcinoma

Diagnostic tests vary according to where the cancer is located. When diagnosing adenocarcinoma, the following tests may be performed:

• Biopsy: The removal of a sample of abnormal tissue in the body. Once the tissue is removed, a pathologist can examine it under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present. If cancer is present, a biopsy can determine whether the cancer originated at the biopsied site or in another part of the body.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan: An X-ray procedure that uses a computer to take detailed, three-dimensional pictures of abnormal tissue in the body. CT scans are also performed during treatment to check the effectiveness of current treatment.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses radiofrequency waves to create detailed cross-sectional images of different parts of the body.

Adenocarcinoma treatment & therapy options

Treatment for adenocarcinoma varies depending on where it grows in the body, but may include:

• Surgery: Adenocarcinoma is often treated with surgical removal of cancerous glandular tissue, as well as some surrounding tissue. Minimally invasive surgical treatment methods can help to reduce healing time and minimize the risk of infection after surgery.
• Radiation therapy: This adenocarcinoma treatment option is typically used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Advanced radiation therapies make use of image guidance before and during treatment to target adenocarcinoma tumors, while sparing healthy tissues and surrounding organs.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy treats adenocarcinoma with drugs that destroy cancer cells, either throughout the whole body, or in a specific area. In some cases, chemotherapy may be used in combination with other forms of adenocarcinoma treatment, such as radiation therapy or surgery.