Adrenal cancer – or adrenal gland cancer – develops when abnormal cells in the adrenal gland start to mutate and grow uncontrollably and more rapidly than normal cells. Adrenal cancer usually appears as a tumour on the outermost layer of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex.
A cancerous tumor on the adrenal gland is called an adrenal cortical carcinoma, whereas a noncancerous tumor is called a benign adenoma. The latter tend to be smaller and cause no symptoms, unless they grow. Tumours larger than 4 cm in diameter are more likely to be cancerous.
What Are The Adrenal Glands?
The adrenal glands are small organs that secrete hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, , androgens, estrogens, aldosterone, and cortisol, which help regulate a range of bodily functions like your immune system, blood sugar levels, blood pressure control, and metabolism.
As the name implies, they are located near the renal area, just above the two kidneys. Although small, they are complex glands. Cells in the inner area of the adrenal glands – known as the adrenal medulla – secrete hormones called catecholamines, which include adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Tumours that form in these cells are known as pheochromocytomas, and are usually benign. Adrenal cancer usually appears on the outermost layer of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex.
Symptoms of Adrenal Cancer
Symptoms of adrenal cancer usually appear due to excess hormones produced by the adrenal gland. Larger tumours will generally present more symptoms, and can even cause symptoms by pressing against neighbouring organs.
Because of the range of functions the hormones produced by the adrenal glands, symptoms of adrenal cancer can vary greatly.
In children and young adults, excess production of androgen or estrogen can result in accelerated physical changes associated with puberty such as excess facial or pubic hair, or large breasts. In adults, excess cortisol and aldosterone can result in high blood pressure, weight gain, irregular periods, depression, and muscles cramps.
Causes and Risk Factors of Adrenal Cancer
Like other forms of the disease, we don’t know exactly what causes adrenal cancer. However, there are a number of conditions associated with its occurrence and development:
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome: This is an inherited disorder that poses a risk for the development of many types of cancers, including breast cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer.
• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: This is a disorder that causes abnormal growth of organs and body parts and also increases the risk of different cancers.
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1): This is an inherited condition that greatly increases the risk of developing tumours in the pituitary gland, parathyroid, and pancreas, as well as the adrenal glands.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP): This is a syndrome characterised by the development of hundreds of polyps in the large intestine and may increase the risk of adrenal cancer.
Treatment of Adrenal Cancer
The treatment of adrenal cancer depends on its growth and extent of the tumour. Surgery is the most common treatment:
Surgery – Adrenalectomies are commonly used to treat benign or cancerous tumours in the adrenal gland. An adrenalectomy can be performed in two ways:
Open: An open adrenalectomy is often required when either the adrenal glands or the tumours are abnormally large. In this procedure a single incision is made either in the abdominal wall just under the ribcage, or the back or sides. The surgeon then disconnects the adrenal gland from the blood vessels and surrounding tissue, removes it via the incision and closes the wounds.
Laparoscopic or robotic: Laparoscopic or robotic adrenalectomies are less invasive than open surgery and as such the recovery time is much quicker. This is where the adrenal glands are removed via several small incisions using fibre-optic technology.
Chemotherapy – The use of drugs to destroy tumour cells to help stop the cancer from spreading. This can be administered intravenously or orally.
Radiotherapy – The use of high energy rays or other particles to destroy tumour cells. This can also be used to help manage painful tumours.
Radiofrequency ablation – This is where a needle is inserted into the cancer under local anaesthetic, and it is destroyed from the inside by high energy waves.
Treating Adrenal tumours with Urology Specialist
Dr Arianayagam is an expert in the field urological cancer surgery, including robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of adrenal cancer.
If you have any further questions about adrenal cancer and would like to book an appointment, please feel free to call give us a call today.
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