Symptoms of Adrenal Cancer
Many adrenal tumors cause the body to make more hormones than normal, which, depending on the hormone, can result in weight gain, loss of menstrual period, muscle weakness and thirst. About half of people with malignant adrenal tumors have symptoms of increased metabolic activity.
Diagnosing Adrenal Cancer
Adrenal cancer is diagnosed with imaging and blood and urine tests.
Imaging studies might include:
- CT Scan
- MRI Of The Abdomen
- Adrenal Angiography or Adrenal Venography
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) Scans
Treating Adrenal Cancer
There are two types of adrenal cancer:
- Malignant Pheochromocytoma: Starts in the center of the adrenal gland
- Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Starts in the adrenal gland’s outside layer
If the cancer is contained in the adrenal gland, the gland itself is surgically removed. If the cancer has metastasized, or spread outside of the gland, chemotherapy is also used. Because this is such a rare disease, much of the treatment is done through clinical trials.
Cancer Institute services for adrenal cancer are augmented by our board-certified endocrine surgeon connects patients to some of the world’s most advanced care and research opportunities.
We offer nationally-recognized treatments through our membership in the MSK Cancer Alliance, the country’s premier cancer center. This gives us, and you, access to the latest standards of treatment and advancements from the most recent clinical research trials.