Medically Reviewed |
Last reviewed by
Mouhammed Amir Habra, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E.,
Jason B. Liu, MD, MS and
Jeena Mary Varghese, M.D.
on
March 30, 2026
Adrenal tumors can be malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancerous). Even benign adrenal tumors can be dangerous or cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Adrenal tumors are growths that form in the adrenal glands. These are two small, triangle-shaped glands that sit on top of your kidneys. You only need one healthy adrenal gland to live normally.
Adrenal tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Even benign tumors can cause serious health problems if they make extra hormones or grow large enough to press on nearby organs.
The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, which controls hormones in the body. The adrenal glands produce many different types of hormones. These hormones help regulate blood pressure, metabolism, the immune system and the body’s response to stress. In fact, the word “adrenal” is in “adrenaline,” one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands.
Each adrenal gland has two parts:
- Medulla (inner part): Makes stress hormones (like adrenaline and noradrenaline), which increase heart rate and alertness.
- Cortex (outer part): Makes hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and androgens, which help control metabolism, blood pressure and how the body uses fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Types of adrenal tumors
Adrenal tumors can be either benign or malignant. There are different types of tumors in each category.
Malignant (cancerous) tumors
- Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC): A rare cancer that starts in the adrenal cortex. Only about 300 to 500 people are diagnosed with ACC each year in the U.S. These adrenal cancers can sometimes produce excessive amounts of one or more hormones (most often cortisol or androgens) but many do not.
- Malignant (metastatic) pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: A rare cancer that starts in the inner part of the adrenal gland (medulla) or in similar cells outside the adrenal gland, with about 800 new cases each year.
Benign (non-cancerous) tumors
- Adenomas: Common non-cancerous tumors in the adrenal cortex. Some can produce excessive amounts of hormones, but most do not.
- Benign (non-metastatic) pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: Non-cancerous tumors that develop in the inner part of the adrenal gland (medulla) or in similar cells outside the adrenal gland. These tumors can still cause serious symptoms if they produce excessive amounts of hormones.
Select hormonal syndromes that can be associated with adrenal tumors
Not all adrenal gland problems are caused by tumors. Some conditions result from the adrenal glands producing too much of certain hormones, leading to a range of health issues. Two of the most common hormone-related adrenal disorders are Cushing syndrome and hyperaldosteronism.
Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome happens when the adrenal glands make too much cortisol, a hormone that helps control blood pressure, metabolism and stress. This condition is rare, with only two to four new cases per million people in the U.S. each year. Overproduction of cortisol may be caused by:
- A benign adrenal tumor (adenoma)
- A pituitary tumor (called Cushing disease)
- Long-term use of corticosteroid medications
- Benign or malignant tumors in other parts of the body that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a hormone that stimulates cortisol production
Hyperaldosteronism
This condition happens when the adrenal glands make too much aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate salt and potassium levels in the body. It can be caused by:
- A single or multiple benign adrenal tumors (adenomas)
- Enlargement (hyperplasia) of the adrenal glands
Hyperaldosteronism may lead to high blood pressure. It is believed that 10% of people with high blood pressure have hyperaldosteronism.
Virilization
Virilization refers to physical changes that happen when the body produces too much male hormone (androgens), such as testosterone. This can lead to increased muscle mass and extra body hair, especially on the face and torso.
It is usually a sign of an underlying cause of hormone overproduction, such as:
- A tumor on the adrenal gland
- Occasionally, an ovarian tumor
Who gets adrenal tumors?
Adrenal tumors can affect anyone, but some people are at higher risk, especially if they have certain inherited genetic conditions. Most adrenal tumors are found accidentally during imaging tests for other health issues. Some people have no symptoms, while others experience signs related to hormone changes.
Adrenal tumor symptoms
Adrenal tumors don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, symptoms often depend on whether the tumor is producing hormones or pressing on nearby organs.
Common symptoms may include:
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Weight gain or loss
• Muscle weakness
• Headaches, sweating or a rapid heartbeat
• Changes in blood sugar levels
• Anxiety or mood changes
Hormone-related symptoms can vary and may include changes such as excess body or facial hair in women or changes in sexual health in men. These symptoms can develop slowly and may be caused by other, more common conditions, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you notice ongoing changes.
Adrenal tumor diagnosis
Diagnosing adrenal tumors usually involves a combination of tests to determine whether a tumor is present and whether it is affecting hormone levels.
Tests may include:
• Blood and urine: To measure hormone levels
• Imaging: CT scans, MRI or other imaging to detect a tumor and evaluate its size and location
• Specialized testing: Such as adrenal vein sampling in select cases
In many cases, imaging confirms whether a tumor is present, while hormone testing helps determine how it affects the body. The exact tumor type is often confirmed after surgery.
Adrenal tumor treatment
Treatment depends on the type of tumor, whether it produces hormones and whether it is cancerous. Options may include:
• Surgery: The most common treatment, especially for tumors that are cancerous or producing excess hormones
• Medications: To control hormone levels or related symptoms
• Targeted therapy or chemotherapy: For certain cancers or advanced disease
• Radiation or radiopharmaceutical therapy: In select cases
• Monitoring: Some small, non-functioning tumors may only need regular follow-up
Your care team will recommend a treatment plan based on your specific diagnosis and overall health.
Adrenal tumor survival rates
Survival rates depend on factors like tumor type, size, whether it produces hormones and how early it’s found. People with early-stage adrenocortical cancer who have their tumors completely removed by surgery often have better outcomes.
Advanced adrenal cancers, especially those that have spread, are harder to treat and have lower survival rates.
Benign adrenal tumors, especially those that don’t produce hormones, usually don’t affect life expectancy and may only need regular monitoring.
Adrenal tumor risk factors
Certain inherited disorders can increase your risk of having an adrenal disease. These include:
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Lynch Syndrome
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1)
- Familial Adenomatosis Polyposis (FAP)
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)
- Neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as von Recklinghausen’s disease
- Paraganglioma syndrome (a condition in which tumors develop in small nerve-related structures in the body called paraganglia)
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, a type of overgrowth syndrome
- SDH syndromes (a group of conditions caused by different types of mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme)
Not everyone with these conditions will develop an adrenal tumor. However, if you or a close family member has one of these syndromes, your doctor may suggest genetic testing to better understand your risk. We offer the most advanced genetic testing to let you know your risk of developing adrenal gland tumors.
Living with adrenal tumors
How adrenal tumors affect your life depends on their type and whether they change your hormone levels. If the tumor affects hormone levels, medications may help block hormone production or keep levels balanced. Some tumors need surgery, especially if they are cancerous or producing too many hormones. Others may be small and non-functioning and just need routine checkups. If both adrenal glands are removed, you’ll need hormone replacement therapy.
After treatment, follow-up care is important. You may need regular imaging, lab tests and checkups with your doctor to watch for recurrence or hormone changes.
Learn more about adrenal tumors:
Learn more about clinical trials for adrenal tumors.
Why choose UT MD Anderson for your adrenal tumor treatment?
UT MD Anderson’s Endocrine Center has one of the nation’s few programs dedicated to providing personalized care for benign and malignant adrenal tumors, a group of complex and diverse disorders.
Our renowned experts diagnose and treat hundreds of patients with adrenal tumors each year, giving us a remarkable level of experience and expertise that translates into exemplary adrenal tumor treatment. Your personal team of specialists, which may include endocrinologists, surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, meets regularly and communicates closely. They work together – and with you – to be sure you receive the best care.
Advanced Adrenal Tumor Diagnosis and Research
Accurate diagnosis of adrenal tumors is often challenging, and it requires a high degree of skill and experience. UT MD Anderson’s laboratories provide a range of specialized approaches, including radiographic scanning, adreno-venous sampling and biochemical testing, to diagnose and determine the extent of disease. And, since many adrenal tumors are inherited, we offer comprehensive genetic testing and counseling.
Your adrenal tumor treatment includes the most advanced methods with the least impact on the body, including targeted therapies and nuclear medicine approaches. If surgery is necessary, our surgeons are often able to perform less-invasive procedures.
Because some adrenal tumors are rare, clinical trials can be difficult to find. As one of the nation’s premier programs, we offer research studies of innovative treatments that may be your best option for certain adrenal gland tumors, such as adrenal cancer, malignant pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.
Adrenal gland tumors are treated in our Endocrine Center.
