Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Adrenal Tumors
Number of Conditions: 2
Adrenal Adenomas (Functional and Non-Functional)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Adrenal Disorders
Sub-category: Adrenal Tumors
Symptoms:
abdominal pain; unexplained weight gain or loss; hypertension; fatigue; weakness; hormonal imbalances such as excess cortisol, aldosterone, or androgens (in functional adenomas); asymptomatic (in non-functional adenomas)
Root Cause:
Benign tumors in the adrenal gland, which may or may not produce excess hormones, leading to varied clinical presentations.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood and urine tests for hormone levels, imaging studies such as CT or MRI to identify the size and location of the adenoma, and adrenal vein sampling in specific cases.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on whether the adenoma is functional or non-functional. Functional adenomas typically require surgical removal, whereas non-functional adenomas may be monitored for growth and changes.
Medications:
Medications to manage symptoms include antihypertensives for blood pressure control, spironolactone for aldosterone-related issues, and ketoconazole or metyrapone to reduce cortisol production in Cushing’s syndrome. These medications are classified as antihypertensives, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and steroidogenesis inhibitors, respectively.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Found in approximately 3–5% of adults, with prevalence increasing with age.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Older age, obesity, hypertension, and family history of adrenal tumors or hormone disorders.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good if the adenomas are treated or monitored appropriately; functional adenomas can lead to complications if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, or malignant transformation (rare).
Adrenal Carcinoma
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Adrenal Disorders
Sub-category: Adrenal Tumors
Symptoms:
abdominal pain; unexplained weight loss; hypertension; virilization or feminization (due to androgen or estrogen secretion); cushingoid features (from excess cortisol); weakness; palpable abdominal mass
Root Cause:
A rare and aggressive cancer arising from the adrenal cortex, often associated with excess production of adrenal hormones.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood and urine tests to assess hormone secretion, imaging studies like CT or MRI to identify tumor size and spread, and biopsy or surgical pathology for definitive diagnosis.
Treatment:
Treatment often involves surgical removal of the tumor (adrenalectomy), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the stage and spread.
Medications:
Mitotane , an adrenalytic agent, is commonly used to reduce hormone production and target cancer cells. Additional chemotherapy agents include etoposide , doxorubicin , and cisplatin .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Extremely rare, with an incidence of 1–2 cases per million annually.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic syndromes such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and MEN1; family history of adrenal cancers; and certain environmental exposures.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; early-stage tumors have a better prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50–60%. Advanced-stage adrenal carcinoma has a much poorer prognosis.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Metastasis to other organs (lungs, liver, or bones), severe hormonal imbalances, and recurrence after treatment.