Adrenal Gland. © 2005-2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). That’s a network of glands that produce and release hormones that help control many important functions in your body. Your symptoms will vary based on which hormones the tumor makes. Palliative care is any treatment that focuses on reducing symptoms, improving quality of life, and supporting patients and their families. ON THIS PAGE: You will learn about the different ways doctors use to treat people with this type of tumor. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence. To see other pages, use the menu. If the tumor cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal. Adrenal tumors require radiation therapy in very rare cases. For an adrenal gland tumor, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. It most commonly originates from cells in the adrenal gland, but can, in rare cases, originate from nodules outside the adrenal gland called paragangliomas. This section tells you the treatments that are the standard of care for this type of tumor. Learn more about getting a second opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with your chosen treatment plan. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. Or, after surgery for an adrenocortical carcinoma that produces hormones, a patient may need medication to block the effects of excess cortisol. Side effects from radiation therapy may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. This may be needed to treat an adrenal gland tumor. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished. You might not have any symptoms, and you only find out about the condition because you got imaging for some other issue. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the dose used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. This is a rare condition characterized by the presence of hundreds or even thousands of noncancerous polyps (growths) in the large intestine and upper respiratory tract. While many remissions are permanent, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the tumor returning. Trusted, compassionate information for people with cancer and their families and caregivers, from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the voice of the world’s cancer physicians and oncology professionals. In fact, patients who receive both often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report they are more satisfied with treatment. Tumors of the adrenal gland. Pheochromocytoma, a rare, usually benign, tumor of the adrenal glands resulting in the glands secreting excessive amounts of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline (catecholamines). If the tumor is possibly cancerous or larger than 5 cm, surgery using 1 larger incision in the abdomen or back is recommended. Adrenal gland surgery can cause bleeding. 7 Thus, medication is used to control adrenal gland cortisol overproduction, but does not treat the source of the problem – the pituitary gland. People with a recurrent adrenal gland tumor often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. All rights reserved. Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of the tumor, possible side effects, and the patient’s preferences and overall health. Recovery from an adrenal gland tumor is not always possible. Surgery is the removal of the tumor and, if necessary, some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of the adrenal gland with the tumor. Understanding the risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if it does return. However, some may become "active" or "functioning" which means they produce hormones, often in excess of what the adrenal glands typically produce. Often, you wouldn’t even know you have one of these tumors. The treatment for hyperaldosteronism caused by a non-cancerous tumor in one adrenal gland is removing the affected gland using laparoscopic (pronounced la-puh-re-SKOP-ic) surgery. You may get too much epinephrine or norepinephrine in your blood, which can cause high blood pressure, flushing/sweating, headaches, and heart palpitations. Up to 25% of adrenal tumors may be linked to a genetic syndrome (see the Risk Factors section). Also, clinical trials might be an option. But if there’s a chance it’s cancer, you’ll likely need open surgery. When most people hear the word tumor, their next thought is cancer. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. If this happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors who have experience in treating it. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Although they are usually benign, pheochromocytomas often cause the adrenal gland to make too many hormones.This can lead to high blood pressure and cause symptoms such as The medications used to treat adrenal gland tumors are continually being evaluated. If the patient has previously had abdominal surgery, an incision in the back may be easier. In this rare genetic disorder, noncancerous tumors form in the endocrine system. You can usually have laparoscopic surgery, where the adrenal gland and tumor are removed through small openings made in your body. These drugs include metyrapone (Metopirone), metyrosine (Demser), spironolactone (Aldactone), and streptozocin (Zanosar). You get a tumor when instead of growing in their usual, orderly way, a group of cells starts to grow out of control. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. It reduces the amount of adrenocorticoids produced by the adrenal cortex. Acute adrenal crisis is a life-threatening state caused by insufficient levels of cortisol, which is a hormone produced and released by the adrenal gland. Adrenal cancer is a disease that starts with a tumor in your adrenal glands. It’s rare and not usually cancer. Each zone is responsible for producing specific hormones. An adrenal gland adenoma is a tumor on your adrenal gland that isn’t cancer, but can still cause problems. An adrenal gland is made of two main parts: The adrenal cortex is the outer region and also the largest part of an adrenal gland. Hormones are like messengers that scoot around your body and tell your organs what to do -- from how to handle stress to controlling blood sugar levels. You and your family are encouraged to think about where you would be most comfortable: at home, in the hospital, or in a hospice environment. Adrenal adenoma, a benign tumor of the adrenal gland which may result in overproduction of one or more adrenal hormones, or may be inactive. Hormone therapy may be required prior to or after other options, such as surgery, have been done. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that usually starts in the cells of one of your adrenal glands. Most adrenal gland adenomas don’t cause any problems -- they just take up space. The adrenal, or suprarenal, gland is paired with one gland located near the upper portion of each kidney.Each gland is divided into an outer cortex and an inner medulla.The cortex and medulla of the adrenal gland, like the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary, develop from different embryonic tissues and secrete different hormones. This diagnosis is stressful, and advanced cancer is difficult to discuss for many people. Most do not cause any signs or symptoms and rarely require treatment. Your doctor can help you consider all your treatment options. If this is the case, the patient will need to be monitored and receive medication to treat high blood pressure during surgery. To learn more about clinical trials, see the About Clinical Trials and Latest Research sections. If you have a nonfunctioning tumor, you probably won’t need any treatment. Or, use the menu to choose another section to continue reading this guide. Â. It works best when palliative care is started as early as needed in the treatment process. If the tumor is cancerous, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be needed. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For example, if the tumor is a pheochromocytoma that is producing excess catecholamines, the patient may need a drug to lower the levels of these body chemicals before additional treatment can be given. Your doctor will just want to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t become functional. If you do have symptoms, it’s because you have a functioning tumor that could be in either part of the adrenal gland: the outer part (the cortex) or the inner part (the medulla). Learn more about palliative care. Adenomas of the adrenal gland are non-cancerous (benign) tumors on the adrenal gland. This may also be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED.Â. When you have these conditions like these, you have a defect in one or more genes that can have different effects on your body. For a larger tumor or one that may be cancerous, surgery with an incision in the back may be preferred. Making sure a person is physically comfortable and free from pain is extremely important.  Â. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The two adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. Doctors want to learn if it is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment. Patients with a tumor that produces very large amounts of hormones may require extensive medication and preparation before surgery. This type of tumor is called a pheochromocytoma. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the tumor will come back. When making treatment plan decisions, patients are also encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option. It may also be helpful to talk with other patients, including through a support group. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat a tumor is called a radiation oncologist. And during and after treatment, be sure to tell your doctor or another health care team member if you are experiencing a problem so it can be addressed as quickly as possible. The extra hormones from the tumor can lead to several conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome. The tumor can also make excess stress hormones, called catecholamines. Learn more about the basics of radiation therapy. The health care team is there to help, and many team members have special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families. Talk with your surgeon before the operation about the possible side effects that you may experience and how they will be managed. The next section in this guide is About Clinical Trials. Alternative Names: Adrenal crisis; Addisonian crisis; Acute adrenal insufficiency. They may also need to stay in an intensive care unit for a short period after the surgery is performed. A tumor and its treatment often cause side effects. Laparoscopic surgery may be performed from the abdomen or back, depending on the location of the tumor and the experience of the surgeon. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Liver Cancer: Symptoms, Tests, and Treatments, Understanding Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. Surgery is also the main treatment option for a pheochromocytoma, the tumor of the adrenal medulla that produces excess catecholamines. Common ways to give chemotherapy include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique in which the surgeon uses a lighted camera and special instruments and makes small incisions in the skin. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope. The Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, OncoLink: “All About Adrenal Cancer,” “All About Neuroblastoma.”, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: “Adrenal Tumors.”, American Cancer Society: “Adrenal Cancer.”, Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School: “Understanding the Stress Response.”, NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, “Adenoma of the Adrenal Gland.”, NIH National Cancer Institute: “Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ) -- Patient Version,” “Pituitary Tumors Treatment (PDQ) -- Patient Version.”, USC, Department for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases, “Adrenal Tumors.”. Patients who have an advanced tumor and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider a type of palliative care called hospice care. Your doctor may also suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent tumor. It offers more information about research studies that are focused on finding better ways to care for people who have been diagnosed with a tumor. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases. Learn more about the basics of cancer surgery. A pheochromocytoma is a tumor that produces adrenaline. Learn more about dealing with recurrence. Ketoconazole is a medication that reduces adrenal gland cortisol production. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to eliminate the tumor, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Before treatment begins, talk with your health care team about the possible side effects of your specific treatment plan and palliative care options. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment. A remission is when tumor cells cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. It is divided into three separate zones: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. This technique reduces pain and recovery time after surgery compared with traditional larger incisions. If a larger incision is needed, then the person is usually hospitalized for up to 5 to 7 days and should not lift heavy objects for 6 weeks after surgery. Patients and their families are encouraged to talk about the way they are feeling with doctors, nurses, social workers, or other members of the health care team. Learn about the causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook for adrenal cancer. When planning treatment, it may be helpful to talk with a genetic counselor to learn whether the tumor is associated with a specific syndrome. Your treatment may include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These side effects usually go away once treatment is finished. A remission may be temporary or permanent. Sometimes, instead of surgery, you may be able to get medicine that prevents hormones from working or lowers their levels so you won’t have any symptoms. After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help cope with the loss. All rights reserved worldwide, treatment options for a neuroendocrine tumor, Adrenal Gland Tumor - About Clinical Trials ›. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy tumor cells, usually by stopping the cells’ ability to grow and divide. Also, talk about the goals of each treatment with your doctor and what you can expect while receiving the treatment. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning. This approach is called palliative or supportive care, and it includes supporting the patient with his or her physical, emotional, and social needs. Doctors can have different opinions about the best standard treatment plan. If an adrenal gland tumor has spread to another part in the body from where it started, doctors call it metastatic cancer. Learn more about making treatment decisions. Whichever treatment plan you choose, palliative care will be important for relieving symptoms and side effects. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable alternative for many families. Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional support, and other therapies. This may be needed to treat an adrenal gland tumor. Having the tumors doesn’t make you any more likely to get adrenal cancer, but it can be hard to tell the difference between an adenoma and a tumor that’s cancer. Cancer care teams also include a variety of other health care professionals, including physician assistants, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and be sure to ask questions about things that are unclear. Systemic chemotherapy gets into the bloodstream to reach tumor cells throughout the body. Adrenaline is commonly associated with the "flight or fight" response. For functional tumors, you typically get surgery. Typically, surgery and medicine can successfully treat the symptoms. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of their tumor, may receive palliative care. A radiation therapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time. Radiation therapy is the use of high energy x-rays or other particles to destroy tumor cells. If the tumor is smaller than 5 cm and, based on its size or the way it looks on imaging scans, shows no evidence that it is cancerous, then laparoscopic surgery may be possible. Learn more about treatment options for a neuroendocrine tumor. ; Adrenocortical carcinoma, cancer of the adrenal cortex; Adrenal incidentaloma, an adrenal tumor (of any type) discovered accidentally during a scan which performed for an unrelated reason If laparoscopic surgery is performed, then the person can usually leave the hospital in 1 to 3 days and resume daily activities within a week. But they’re not always the same thing. But some of them are functioning tumors -- that means they make the same hormones as your adrenal glands. Surgery is the removal of the tumor and, if necessary, some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. People often receive treatment for the tumor and treatment to ease side effects at the same time. So your doctor will likely have your urine and blood tested to check your hormone levels, and maybe do some imaging to be sure what it is. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment in the treatment plan. If the tumor does return after the original treatment, it is called a recurrent tumor. They form a mass that normally wouldn’t be there, and that mass may or may not be cancer. Learn what causes them, how to know if you might have one, and how they’re treated. Learn more about the basics of chemotherapy and preparing for treatment. Mitotane (Lysodren) is a medication used to treat cancer in the adrenal cortex. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your doctor and health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating a tumor with medication. A tumor of the adrenal glands can result in the overproduction of various hormones. Your two adrenal glands, one on each kidney, make hormones. Overactive Adrenal Gland Disorders. After testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options. A surgical endocrinologist is a surgeon who specializes in treating an endocrine tumor using surgery. In addition to treatment to slow, stop, or eliminate the tumor, an important part of care is relieving a person’s symptoms and side effects. Learn more about grief and loss. A surgical endocrinologist is a surgeon who specializes in treating an endocrine tumor using surgery. Doctors don’t know what causes adrenal gland adenomas, but you’re more likely to get one if you have certain genetic conditions, such as: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). If so, the syndrome may affect other family members as well, and specific genetic tests may be recommended for them. Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of the adrenal gland with the tumor. Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1). Because adrenal gland tumors may produce excess hormones, the doctor may prescribe various medications to control the levels of these hormones before, during, or after other treatments. Descriptions of the most common treatment options for an adrenal gland tumor are listed below. This type of surgery is minimally invasive, involving only small incisions in the abdomen, and is usually easier to recover from than traditional surgery. Learn more about genetic testing. For many patients, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer can be very stressful and, at times, difficult to bear. Clinical trials can test a new drug, a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments. In some cases, the entire adrenal gland may need to be removed. When this occurs, a cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. If you have an adrenal gland adenoma, you have a tumor on your adrenal gland, but it’s not cancer. Most patients require hormone replacement(s) because of damage to the normal pituitary gland by the tumor. If you are diagnosed with an adrenal tumor, it is important to learn if any other members of your family may have had any types of endocrine disease in the past. Often the treatment plan will include the treatments described above, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, but they may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or combinations of different drugs at the same time. Palliative care will also be important to help relieve symptoms and side effects. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence). Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

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