Adrenal Gland Tumors and Cancer: Types, Symptoms and Treatment

The adrenal glands

Your adrenal (or suprarenal) glands sit on top of each kidney. They make hormones you can't live without, including sex hormones and cortisol, which helps you respond to stress and has many other jobs.

Tumors

Many disorders can affect the adrenal glands, including tumors, which can be:

• benign — not cancer. Most adrenal tumors are benign; they usually cause no symptoms and may not need treatment;
• malignant — cancer. Adrenal cancers are uncommon.

Types

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

Symptoms and treatment

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

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Adrenal Gland Cancer," National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.