What is adrenal gland cancer?

Last medical review:

Adrenal gland cancer starts in the cells of the adrenal glands. Cancer may start in the outer layer of the adrenal gland (called the adrenal cortex) or in the inner layer of the adrenal gland (called the adrenal medulla). A cancerous (malignant) tumour is a group of cancer cells that can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The tumour can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When cancer starts in the adrenal gland cells, it is called adrenal gland cancer or primary adrenal gland cancer. This type of cancer is rare.

The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is the group of glands and cells that make and release hormones into the blood. These hormones control many body functions, such as growth, reproduction, sleep, hunger and metabolism.

You have 2 adrenal glands. There is one above each kidney, and the kidneys are deep inside the upper part of the abdomen. Each adrenal gland has 2 main layers – an outer layer of gland tissue and an inner layer of nerve tissue. A covering, called a capsule, surrounds and protects each adrenal gland.

Diagram of the location of the adrenal glands
Diagram of the location of the adrenal glands

Cells in the adrenal gland sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. Changes in the adrenal cortex may lead to non-cancerous tumours such as adrenal adenomas. These changes may also become cancerous. This type of cancer is called adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). It is the most common primary adrenal gland cancer.

Changes in the adrenal medulla may lead to tumours such as pheochromocytomas. Most pheochromocytomas are non-cancerous. Tumours that form outside of the adrenal glands are called paragangliomas.

Other types of cancer can spread to the adrenal gland, but this isn't the same disease as primary adrenal gland cancer. Cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the adrenal gland is called secondary adrenal gland cancer. It's not treated in the same way as primary adrenal gland cancer. Secondary adrenal gland cancers include melanoma skin cancer, lymphoma, and lung, breast, kidney and colorectal cancer. Secondary adrenal gland cancer is more common than primary adrenal gland cancer.

Expert review and references

  • Shereen Ezzat, MD, FRCPC, FACP
  • American Cancer Society. Adrenal Cancer. 2018. https://www.cancer.org/.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Cancer.net: Adrenal Gland Tumor. 2022.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Cancer.net: Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma. 2022.
  • Marcondes Lerario A, Mohan DR, Jolly S, Else T, Hammer GD. Adrenal tumours. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg S. eds. DeVita Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2023: Kindle version, chapter 56, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B0BG3DPT4Q&language=en-CA.
  • Martini FH, Tallitsch RB, Nath JL. Human Anatomy. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2018.
  • Stewart AA, Story ES. Adrenal neoplasms. Raghavan D, Ahluwalia MS, Blanke CD, et al, eds.. Textbook of Uncommon Cancer. 5th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell; 2017: Kindle version, 47, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B06XKD44V3&_encoding=UTF8&ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_pbcb_rnvc00.

Adrenal gland hormones

Adrenal gland cancer starts in the adrenal glands, which is part of the endocrine system. The adrenal glands produce hormones. Hormones control specific body functions, such as metabolism, growth and reproduction.

Types of adrenal gland tumours

Cancerous tumours of the adrenal gland are growths that have the potential to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancerous adrenal gland tumours are rare.

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