Medical Centric

Adrenal Gland Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cancer / By

 

  1. Adrenal gland cancer is a condition that involves the development of abnormal cells in the adrenal glands. Such cells can also travel to the glands and cause this condition.
  2. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys, and cancer usually occurs in the adrenal cortex, the glands’ outermost layer.
  3. Adrenal gland cancer usually takes the form of a tumor. A cancerous tumor is called adrenal cortical carcinoma, while a non-cancerous tumor growth is called a benign adenoma.
  4. Adrenal cortical carcinoma is usually caused by cancer cells traveling to the adrenal glands from other parts of the body.
  5. Lymphoma and cancers of the kidney, breast, skin, and stomach are most likely to cause this.

Let’s Look at Adrenal Gland Cancer In Detail : 

Causes

Scientists have not been able to pinpoint an exact cause for adrenal gland cancer as yet. Around 15% of cases are believed to be a result of genetic disorders. However, several factors can increase the risk of getting adrenal gland cancer. They include:

  1. Li-Fraumeni syndrome: an inherited disorder that increases the risk of getting different types of cancer.
  2. Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome: an abnormal growth disorder that leads to a larger body and larger organs. It increases the risk of kidney and liver cancer.
  3. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1): an inherited condition that causes tumors to develop in tissues and glands producing hormones, such as the pituitary, pancreas, and parathyroid. It can lead to both malignant and benign tumors.
  4. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP): an inherited condition that causes polyp growth in the intestine.

Symptoms

  • Adrenal gland cancer leads to the excessive production of hormones, such as androgen or estrogen.
  • This makes this cancer easier to spot in children, with symptoms including:
    • Large breasts in boys
    •  An enlarged clitoris
    • An enlarged penis
    • Excessive pubic, facial, and underarm hair growth
    •  Early puberty in girls 
  • Symptoms in adults are not usually noticeable until the tumor becomes large enough to come into contact with other organs.
  • Women with increased estrogen might see more facial hair growth, while men might see breast enlargement or breast tenderness.
  • Symptoms caused by increased cortisol and aldosterone production include:
    • Weight gain
    • High blood pressure
    • Irregular periods
    • High blood sugar
    •  Depression
    •  Easy bruising
    • Muscle cramps
    • Frequent urination

Diagnosis

· Diagnosing adrenal gland cancer usually starts with a physical examination and medical history.

· Blood and urine samples might also be taken.

· Other tests include:

  1. An MRI
  2. A CT Scan
  3. Image-guided fine needle biopsy
  4. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan
  5. An ultrasound
  6. An adrenal angiograph

Treatment

Early treatment is necessary to deal with adrenal gland cancer. Treatment options include:

  1. Surgery to remove the adrenal glands. Neighboring lymph nodes and tissue might also be removed if cancer has spread.
  2. Radiation therapy kills existing cancer cells and stops cancer growth.
  3. Chemotherapy to help the body kill cancer cells.