Progress and Pitfalls in Molecular and Biochemistry Diagnostics of Adrenal Tumors

Adrenal incidentalomas are radiologically discovered tumors which have a prevalence of up to 4.2%, these tumors can represent a variety of different pathologies. Regarding functionality, although 75% of adrenal tumors are non-functioning cortical adenomas, there is a subset of these masses with important clinical consequences (i.e. adrenocortical cancer, PPGLs, primary aldosteronism, autonomous cortisol secretion, autonomous androgen secretion and others). Malignancy is diagnosed in 5% to 8% of patients with adrenal tumors, with a higher risk in young patients. The uncertainty on the management of small adrenal incidentalomas still represents a challenge in real clinical practice. The initial laboratory diagnostics of adrenal tumors is often dependent on biochemical and molecular testing which is divided into three stages: pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical. In addition, various analytical factors can influence the biochemical and molecular results of these tests.



In this Research Topic, we aim to explore the advances and challenges in the field of biochemistry and molecular diagnostics of adrenal tumors, including the pitfalls in laboratory diagnostics of adrenal tumors. This will be achieved by looking at a range of different topics relating to adrenal tumour, such as; Biomarkers, Molecular biomarkers, Metabolomics, Proteomics, Molecular testing, Factors influencing the test results (eg. interferences, drugs) and New diagnostic possibilities (newer immunoassays, chromatography techniques: LC-MS/MS, GC/MS, HPLC, SEC).



This Research Topic therefore welcomes manuscripts such as: Original research articles, commentary articles, reviews and mini reviews articles on topics related to current and new diagnostic approaches for adrenal tumors (pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, primary aldosteronism, adrenocortical carcinoma, adrenal tumors with associated autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS, MACS), non-functioning adrenal tumors and others). Potential areas include, but are not limited to:



● Metabolomics and proteomics in diagnostics of adrenal tumours;

● Progress in diagnostics of adrenal tumors (new and current biomarkers in laboratory diagnostics, newer immunoassays and chromatography techniques: LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, HPLC in diagnostics of adrenal tumours);

● Molecular studies (molecular mechanisms of adrenal tumors);

● Pitfalls in molecular and biochemistry diagnostics of adrenal tumors;

● Epidemiology of adrenal tumors.