It is hard to find adrenal cortical carcinomas early and they are often quite large when diagnosed. Adrenal cortical carcinomas are often found earlier in children than in adults because children are more sensitive to the hormones these tumors secrete. Children will show outward signs of excess hormone production early. In adults, these tumors may be found early by accident, when a CT scan is done for some other health concern.

The American Cancer Society has official recommendations for the early detection of several types of cancer. Because adrenal cancers occur so rarely, the Society does not recommend routine testing for this cancer in people without any symptoms.

Last Medical Review: 03/20/2009
Last Revised: 03/20/2009