About the adrenal glands

The adrenals are small glands that sit above each of the kidneys, as shown in the picture below. The kidneys are found deep inside the upper part of the belly (abdomen).

The adrenal gland is made up of 2 parts. The outer part, called the cortex, is where adrenal cortical tumors start. The job of the cortex is to make certain hormones for the body. These hormones are called steroids.

The inner portion of the adrenal gland, called the medulla, is really a part of the nervous system. Nervous system hormones are made in the medulla. Tumors of the adrenal medulla are not covered here. This information is only about tumors of the adrenal cortex.

Adrenal cortex tumors

There are 2 main types of adrenal cortex tumors.

• benign (not cancer) tumors, called adenomas
• adrenal cortical carcinoma -- these tumors are cancer

Most tumors of the adrenal cortex are benign adenomas. These are small tumors, most of the time less than 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter. In most cases, they occur in only one adrenal gland, but sometimes are in both glands.

Ademonas

Most people with adrenal adenomas have no symptoms. They don't know they have a tumor unless it is found when tests are being done because of other health problems. Some of these tumors make excess hormones, which may or may not cause symptoms. Many of the hormone-related symptoms of adenomas are the same as those from adrenal carcinomas (cancers). These symptoms are discussed in the section, "How is adrenal cancer found?"

Treatment: Adenomas can be cured by taking out the adrenal gland that contains the tumor. Some adrenal adenomas can be treated with medicine. This might be a good option for patients with other medical problems who might not be able to have surgery. Still other small adenomas that are not causing any symptoms do not need any treatment at all.

When an adrenal tumor is found "by accident", tests are often done to see if it is making hormones. If it is, surgery is often needed to take out the adrenal gland with the tumor. If it is not making hormones, surgery may only be needed if the tumor is likely to be cancer. Tumors that are small are less likely to be cancer, and are often watched without treatment. A CT (or MRI) scan will likely be done about 6 months later to see if the tumor has grown. If it has, it may need to be removed. If it hasn't grown, hormone levels will be watched over the next few years. If the tumor stays small and doesn't make any hormones, it may not need to be treated at all.

The rest of this document refers to adrenal cancers only, and not to adenomas.

Adrenal cortical cancer

Adrenal cortical cancers are usually found because of the symptoms they cause. They may make hormones that cause body changes such as weight gain, fluid build-up, early puberty in children, or excess facial or body hair in women. Some adrenal cancers get very large and cause symptoms by pressing on other organs. This can cause pain, a feeling of fullness, and weight loss because it is hard to eat very much. In most cases, adrenal cortical cancers are much larger than adenomas. If a tumor is larger than about 2 to 2-1/2 inches (5 or 6 centimeters), it is most likely cancer.

Some cancers start in other organs and then spread to the adrenal glands. For example, lung and breast cancers often spread to the adrenal glands. But these cancers are still named after the place where they started. They are not called adrenal cancers, and they are treated like the cancers where they started.

Last Medical Review: 11/04/2009
Last Revised: 11/04/2009