, Adrenal and Endocrine Tumors in Children' is the third volume in the series, 'Cancer Treatment and Research' devoted to pediatric oncology. Like its predecessors, it is organized into two sections. The first section again deals with issues of basic research germane to the understanding of childhood malignancies. In volume 3, the scope of the first section has been broadened to include a review that is epidemiologically oriented and a second review that is psychologically oriented. In the second part, major pediatric oncology units in Japan, Australia, Europe and the Americas have been invited to report their experience with of the multiple endocrine adrenal cortical carcinomas and the presentation neoplasia syndromes in children. In addition to these institutional reports of case material, there are reviews on genetics, pathology, and a diagnostic evaluation of children. The overview chapter on adrenal cortical carcinoma includes recommendations for radiotherapy from Dr. D' Angio and for che motherapy from Dr. Philip Schein. Individuals using these recommended therapies are encouraged to report their results to the editors. The informa tion will then be made available to others on request. List of Contributors ACTON, Dr. Ronald, Diabetes Research Hospital, Room 817, 1808 7th Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. BAUM, Edward S., M.D., Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Medical School, Children's Memorial Hospital, 2300 Child ren's Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. BENZ, Dr. Chris c., Dept. of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.

This book is designed to present a comprehensive and state-of the-art approach to the management of adrenal neoplasms that provides a resource to the broad group of providers that will encounter such a patient. Sections address issues that are faced by providers who encounter a patient with an adrenal neoplasm. These areas include an overview of the genetic basis and familial cancer syndrome-associated with adrenal neoplasms, pathobiology, advanced and tumor specific imaging approaches and technologies, biochemical analysis, standard medical and surgical therapies, and emerging technology and treatment approaches to benign and malignant adrenal neoplasms. Written by experts in the field, each of these sections address level of clinical evidence and provide recommendations and treatment algorithms. Extensive illustrations make this an interactive text. Management of Adrenal Masses in Children and Adults will serve as a very useful resource for all providers dealing with, and interested in this common but challenging tumor. It will provide a concise yet comprehensive summary of the current status of the field that will help guide patient management and stimulate investigative efforts.

Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma is classically associated with a dismal prognosis. Yet its clinical presentation is changing (more and more classified as “incidentaloma”). New insights have emerged on its pathophysiological mechanisms (through the genetic elucidation of familial syndromes), and Reference Centers within National and European Networks are now offering more standardized and efficient multidisciplinary clinical management of these difficult patients. All these important aspects are described by experts in nine chapters dealing with epidemiology, prognosis, and clinical management, pathology, molecular pathophysiological mechanisms, modern imaging approaches, surgical and chemotherapeutical approaches of primary and secondary lesions, and the particular aspects of adrenal cortical carcinoma in children. This book, with its many figures and photographs, will be of major interest to endocrinologists, radiologists and nuclear medicine experts, pathologists, surgeons, oncologists, pediatricians. After a thorough reading, one will better recognize a suspicious adrenal “incidentaloma”, diagnose steroid hypersecretion, suspect a familial disease, consult with the pathologist and surgeon, manipulate difficult drugs like O,p'DDD, participate in multidisciplinary discussions with oncologists, radiotherapeutists, molecular biologists… Modern medicine in action!

Substantial further advances in our understanding of adrenal development, steroid biosynthesis and adrenocortical disorders necessitate another look at this small but complex organ. In this volume, leaders in the fields of adrenal development, biochemistry and genetics review the most recent findings from bench and bedside research. New aspects of adrenal development and zonation and the novel 'backdoor' pathway to androgen synthesis are discussed. P450 oxidoreductase deficiency (a newly described form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia) and long-term outcome of prenatal treatment of 21-hydroxylase deficiency are examined. An update on ACTH resistance and adrenal Cushing's syndrome is provided. Finally, the role of adrenal steroidogenesis in arterial hypertension and fetal programming of adrenal androgen excess as a possible explanation for polycystic ovary syndrome in later life are analyzed. This book will be of great interest to pediatric, adult and reproductive endocrinologists, clinical geneticists, developmental biologists and basic scientists working in the fields of endocrinology and steroidogenesis.

We anticipate the book to be a definitive text on the subject that explores all aspects of the study of adrenal cancer and the treatment of patients with the disease. Chapters will cover epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetics, cancer stem cells, historic and emerging therapies, mouse models of adrenal cancer, new developments in tumor profiling, worldwide collaborative groups and tumor registries together with resources for the practitioner and community of adrenal cancer scientists. We do not wish this book to compete with the other larger books in the Endocrine and Endocrine Surgery literature. In addition, it is not expected to cover benign adrenal diseases that have been covered in detail in other venues. We envision this book to be a very specialized and exhaustive text on basic, translational and clinical aspects of adrenal cancer.