The adrenal glands are triangular-shaped areas made up of two parts. These glands sit on each kidney and are essential to your body’s endocrine system, producing multiple hormones that help control blood pressure, metabolism, stress responses, and more. If a mass develops in these glands, whether benign or malignant, it can cause the glands to malfunction and affect the production of hormones. When this happens, you could experience adrenal gland tumor symptoms.
What Are Common Adrenal Gland Tumor Symptoms?
Adrenal gland disorder symptoms occur due to increased or decreased hormone production or by the tumor pressing against organs in your body. You could also experience these symptoms with other conditions, so if you have symptoms of an adrenal gland tumor, see your provider for additional testing and to discuss your next steps. Common signs to watch out for include:
- Elevated blood pressure: This symptom is common with multiple diseases, but it can be a sign of an adrenal gland disorder when combined with facial flushing, headaches, and low sodium. Overproduction of hormones can cause a significant imbalance of salt and water in the bloodstream, which leads to high blood pressure.
- Weakness and fatigue: Lack of hormone production, such as with Addison’s disease, can cause weak muscles, a drop in blood pressure, and fatigue.
- Weight loss and abdominal pain: Since adrenal gland hormones control food processing and the appetite, digestive issues occur when you have a hormone imbalance. Your body may have difficulty absorbing nutrients.
In addition, there here are a few other symptoms to watch out for:
- Purplish stretch marks, particularly on the thighs, abdomen, and breasts
- Buffalo hump (extra fat between your shoulders and neck)
- Easy bruising and thin skin that is slow to heal
- Moon face (round, full face)
Women might experience adrenal gland tumor symptoms such as deepening of the voice, irregular menstruation, or excess body or facial hair. Men could have erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, or tenderness or enlargement of the breasts.
What Are the Types of Adrenal Gland Tumors?
If your provider suspects a tumor, that does not mean it is cancerous. There are multiple types of benign and malignant adrenal gland tumors.
Benign Adrenal Gland Tumors
A benign tumor can grow larger but does not spread to other areas of your body. Here are a few examples of benign tumors that could occur in the adrenal glands:
- Adenoma: This type of tumor is noncancerous and the most common type of adrenal gland tumor.
- Pheochromocytoma: This tumor begins in the medulla and produces an excess of norepinephrine and epinephrine.
- Paragangliomas: Also called extra-adrenal paraganglioma, this type of tumor forms outside the adrenal glands.
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors can lead to Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disorder where the body produces excess cortisol, or hyperaldosteronism, where the adrenal glands make too much aldosterone.
Malignant Adrenal Gland Tumors
The other type of tumor that could cause adrenal gland tumor symptoms is a malignant or cancerous tumor. A malignant tumor can grow and spread to other parts of your body. Neuroblastoma is one type of malignant tumor that usually originates in the medulla and typically affects young children.
Though rare, adrenocortical carcinoma is the most common type of malignant adrenal gland tumor. There are two types of adrenocortical carcinoma. Functioning ACC is more common and produces at least one hormone. Nonfunctioning ACC does not produce any hormones.
To determine whether an adrenal tumor is benign or malignant, your doctor will examine you and run tests for a definite diagnosis.
How Is an Adrenal Tumor Diagnosed?
An adrenal tumor is not always easy to diagnose. An endocrinologist specializing in adrenal gland disorders should have the most up-to-date tools and knowledge to know which tests to perform. In addition to a physical examination, here are some standard diagnostic tests.
Blood and Urine Tests
Blood and urine tests indicate levels of hormones, such as aldosterone, cortisol, DHEA, metanephrines, and chemicals, such as potassium and sodium. When you have adrenal gland tumor symptoms, urine tests might include 24-hour urine collections.
Diagnostic Imaging and Other Tests
Diagnostic imaging looks for the adrenal gland tumor, diagnoses if it is malignant or benign, and sees if it has spread. Common tests include:
- Biopsy
- CT (computed axial tomography)
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- PET (positron emission tomography)
- MIBG (meta-iodobenzylguanidine)
Where Is the Pain Located With Adrenal Cancer?
When you experience adrenal gland tumor symptoms, it is common to have pain in your back and sides, also known as your flank area. A feeling of fullness in your abdomen is another possible occurrence. You might also have secondary pain in the groin muscles and hamstrings.
Can Blood Tests Detect Adrenal Tumors?
Blood tests measure levels of adrenal hormones and may help a doctor determine if someone with symptoms has adrenal cancer. Even if a patient has no signs, a health care provider might do blood tests as they can detect even slight elevations in hormone levels.
How Serious Is an Adrenal Gland Tumor?
Malignant adrenal gland tumors are cancerous and could require treatment. In addition, a cancer diagnosis can be stressful. If the diagnosis is benign, you might not have any adrenal gland tumor symptoms. However, treatment could be necessary if you begin having problems.
How Do You Treat Adrenal Tumors?
There are several options to treat adrenal tumors; your doctor might recommend more than one. Here are a few common treatments for adrenal tumors:
- Hormone replacement: Since adrenal tumors cause the glands to overproduce or underproduce hormones, hormone replacement might be necessary to rebalance your levels.
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy: These therapies work to destroy the tumor cells.
- Surgery: Your doctor might recommend removing the tumor and surrounding tissue. Sometimes, treatment may require an adrenalectomy, which removes the adrenal gland itself. A minimally invasive laparoscopic adrenalectomy procedure has a shorter recovery time and minimal incisions.
What Should You Do If You Have Adrenal Gland Tumor Symptoms?
If you have adrenal gland tumor symptoms, see a doctor for a diagnosis and recommended treatment. Contact Arizona Premier Surgery to schedule a consultation to discuss treatment options for adrenal gland issues.
Sources:
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/cushing-syndrome/
https://childrensoncologygroup.org/newly-diagnosed-with-neuroblastoma
https://arizonapremiersurgery.com/procedure/adrenal-gland-removal-surgery-scottsdale-az/
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/adrenal-gland-tumor/types-treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17769-adrenal-adenoma