Adrenal Cancer

Your healthcare provider may suspect cancer in your adrenal glands based on your specific symptoms, such as excessive hair growth or unexplained weight changes. But sometimes, providers find adrenal tumors after taking a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for other reasons.

During a visit with your healthcare provider, they’ll:

• Perform a physical examination.
• Review your medical history.
• Ask about your symptoms.
• See if you have any known risk factors for adrenal cancer.
• Review your family history of cancer.

What tests can help diagnose adrenal cancer?

After your exam, your healthcare provider will run additional tests to confirm your diagnosis or rule out other conditions. These tests may include:

• Blood tests.
• Urinalysis (urine tests).
• Imaging tests.

Adrenal cancer staging

Healthcare providers use a cancer staging system to diagnose adrenal cancer. Staging tells you the size and location of the tumor and whether it has metastasized (spread to other areas of your body).

In general, the higher the number, the more advanced the tumor:

• Stage 1: The tumor measures 5 centimeters or less and hasn’t spread outside of your adrenal gland.
• Stage 2: The tumor measures more than 5 centimeters and hasn’t spread outside of your adrenal gland.
• Stage 3: The cancer is in your adrenal gland and has spread to surrounding tissues or nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: The cancer is in your adrenal gland and has spread to distant areas of your body, such as your lungs or liver.

Staging systems can be complex. If you have specific questions about your diagnosis, you should talk to your healthcare provider.