Adrenal Gland Cancer

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

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• Related Issues
• Genetics

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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• Patient Handouts

Summary

Your adrenal, or suprarenal, glands are located on the top of each kidney. These glands produce hormones that you can't live without, including sex hormones and cortisol, which helps you respond to stress and has many other functions.

A number of disorders can affect the adrenal glands, including tumors. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Most adrenal gland tumors are benign. They usually do not cause symptoms and may not require treatment. Malignant adrenal gland cancers are uncommon.

Types of tumors include

• Adrenocortical carcinoma - cancer in the outer part of the gland
• Neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer
• Pheochromocytoma - a rare tumor that is usually benign

Symptoms depend on the type of cancer you have. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Start Here

• Adrenal Gland Tumor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• General Information about Adrenocortical Carcinoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Is Adrenal Cortical Cancer? (American Cancer Society)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Abdominal and Pelvic CT (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Aldosterone and Renin Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Cortisol Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• DHEAS Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• How Is Adrenal Cancer Diagnosed? (American Cancer Society)
• MRI of the Body (Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Stages of Adrenocortical Carcinoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Laparoscopic Adrenal Gland Removal (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)
• Treatment Option Overview (Adrenocortical Carcinoma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Options by Stage (Adrenocortical Carcinoma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Adrenal Cortical Cancer? (American Cancer Society)

Related Issues

• What Happens After Treatment for Adrenal Cancer? (American Cancer Society)

Genetics

• Carney Complex (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Statistics and Research

• Adrenal Gland Tumors: Statistics (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Etiologies and management of cutaneous flushing: Malignant causes.
• Article: Metanephrines for Evaluating Palpitations and Flushing.
• Article: Case 243: Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in an Adrenal Myelolipoma.
• Adrenal Gland Cancer -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• Find an Endocrinologist (Hormone Health Network)
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• NCI Designated Cancer Centers (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Organizations That Offer Support Services (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Adrenalectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Adrenocortical carcinoma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• After chemotherapy - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Chemotherapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish
• What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy (National Cancer Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish