Adrenal tumor

Adrenal Tumor

An adrenal tumor is a neoplasm that arises from the adrenal gland. These tumors can be benign or malignant and may affect the production of hormones by the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney and are responsible for producing hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline.

Types of Adrenal Tumors

Adrenal tumors can be classified into several types based on their origin and behavior:

Benign Adrenal Tumors

• Adrenal adenoma: A common benign tumor that often does not cause symptoms and is usually found incidentally during imaging studies for other conditions.
• Myelolipoma: A rare benign tumor composed of fat and bone marrow elements.

Malignant Adrenal Tumors

• Adrenocortical carcinoma: A rare and aggressive cancer that originates in the cortex of the adrenal gland.
• Pheochromocytoma: A tumor that arises from the adrenal medulla and can cause excessive production of catecholamines, leading to hypertension and other symptoms.
• Neuroblastoma: A cancer that primarily affects children and arises from immature nerve cells in the adrenal glands.

Symptoms

The symptoms of adrenal tumors depend on the type of tumor and whether it is functional (producing hormones) or non-functional. Common symptoms include:

• Hypertension
• Weight gain or loss
• Muscle weakness
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Abdominal pain

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of adrenal tumors typically involves:

• Imaging studies such as CT scan or MRI to visualize the tumor.
• Blood tests and urine tests to assess hormone levels.
• Biopsy in some cases to determine the nature of the tumor.

Treatment

Treatment options for adrenal tumors depend on the type and stage of the tumor:

• Surgery: The primary treatment for most adrenal tumors, especially if they are large or functional.
• Medications: Used to control hormone production in functional tumors.
• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy: May be used for malignant tumors, particularly if they have spread.

Prognosis

The prognosis for adrenal tumors varies widely:

• Benign tumors such as adrenal adenomas generally have an excellent prognosis.
• Malignant tumors like adrenocortical carcinoma have a poorer prognosis, especially if diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Incidences and prognoses of adrenal tumors.

Metastasis

Adrenal tumors can metastasize to other parts of the body, and the adrenal glands themselves can be sites of metastasis from other cancers, such as lung cancer.

Metastasis sites for common cancers. Lung cancer metastasis to the adrenal glands is indicated with red arrows.

Related Pages

• Adrenal gland
• Endocrine system
• Cancer
• Hormone