Aldosterone producing adrenal cancers are extremely rare but do occur and can lead to the development of Conn syndrome. This may lead to development of a virilizing syndrome. Testosterone is another hormone commonly secreted by adrenal cancers. The most common hormone produced by adrenal cancers is cortisol. Those patients who have tumors that produce excess adrenal hormones tend to be diagnosed earlier in the disease process. In adults, adrenal cancer often has no obvious symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. For various reasons, patients with ACC do not usually present for medical evaluation until late in the disease process. Despite increased utilization of imaging studies, ACC is not being identified at earlier stages in the United States. At the University of Michigan, we are constantly making progress and strive to improve outcomes for our patients.įor those patients diagnosed with a disease as rare as adrenal cancer, it is important to seek medical advice at a center which specializes in this particular type of cancer. Approximately 600 patients are diagnosed with adrenal cancer each year in the United States. Adrenal carcinoma - adrenal tumor that is malignant (cancer)Īdrenal cancer (adrenocortical carcinoma or ACC) is an extremely rare cancer which occurs in 1-2 people per million people in the population.Adrenal adenoma - adrenal tumor that is benign.

Adrenal Cancer: Disease OverviewĪdrenal tumors are classified by their growth characteristics: Disturbances in the amount of hormone produced can be the result of all cells in the gland producing too much hormone (hyperplasia) or be the result of a few cells, a nodule or mass within an otherwise normal gland, producing too much hormone. When certain cells in the adrenal glands produce too much of any one of the hormones, abnormalities can result which may affect many organ systems of the body. The ovaries and testicles make the majority of sex hormones. The adrenal glands also make small amounts of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. The hormones produced by the adrenal glands include aldosterone, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones enable the body to respond to stress, regulate blood pressure and the amount of fluid in the body, and are involved in the regulation of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. The two adrenal glands are responsible for making hormones - substances that make other cells in the body respond in various ways. The adrenals are paired, goldenrod-yellow colored glands that are situated behind the organs of the gastrointestinal tract next to the spine and just above the kidneys in a space called the retroperitoneum. In order to understand adrenal cancer and adrenal tumors, it's important to learn about the adrenal gland, in general.Įach person is usually born with two adrenal glands.

Adrenal gland above kidney