The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of each of the kidneys. The kidneys are found deep inside the upper part of the abdomen.
January 2, 2005 (Press Release) --
What Is Adrenal Cancer
The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of each of the kidneys. The kidneys are found deep inside the upper part of the abdomen.
The adrenal gland is made up of two parts. The outer part, called the cortex, is where adrenal cortical tumors start. The job of the cortex is to make certain hormones called steroids for the body.
The inner portion of the adrenal gland, called the medulla, is really a part of the nervous system. Nervous system hormones are made in the medulla. Tumors of the adrenal medulla are not covered in this article. The information here refers only tumors of the adrenal cortex.
There are two main types of adrenal cortex tumors.
benign (not cancer) tumors are called adenomas
adrenal cortical carcinoma. These tumors are cancerous
Most people with adenomas have no symptoms. They don't know they have a tumor. Many of these tumors do not make excess hormones. Some do make excess hormones, which may or may not cause symptoms. These adenomas can be cured by taking out the adrenal gland that contains the tumor.
Adrenal cortical carcinomas, on the other hand, make hormones that cause body changes such as weight gain and fluid build-up, early puberty in children, or excess face or body hair in women. Some adrenal cancers get very large and cause symptoms by pressing on other organs. In most cases, adrenal cortical cancers are much larger than adenomas. If a tumor is larger than about 2 to 21/2 inches, it is most likely cancer.
Some cancers start in other organs and then spread to the adrenal glands. For example, lung cancer often spreads to the adrenals. But these cancers are still named after the place where they started. They are not called adrenal cancers.
http://www.cancer.org/
The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of each of the kidneys. The kidneys are found deep inside the upper part of the abdomen.
The adrenal gland is made up of two parts. The outer part, called the cortex, is where adrenal cortical tumors start. The job of the cortex is to make certain hormones called steroids for the body.
The inner portion of the adrenal gland, called the medulla, is really a part of the nervous system. Nervous system hormones are made in the medulla. Tumors of the adrenal medulla are not covered in this article. The information here refers only tumors of the adrenal cortex.
There are two main types of adrenal cortex tumors.
benign (not cancer) tumors are called adenomas
adrenal cortical carcinoma. These tumors are cancerous
Most people with adenomas have no symptoms. They don't know they have a tumor. Many of these tumors do not make excess hormones. Some do make excess hormones, which may or may not cause symptoms. These adenomas can be cured by taking out the adrenal gland that contains the tumor.
Adrenal cortical carcinomas, on the other hand, make hormones that cause body changes such as weight gain and fluid build-up, early puberty in children, or excess face or body hair in women. Some adrenal cancers get very large and cause symptoms by pressing on other organs. In most cases, adrenal cortical cancers are much larger than adenomas. If a tumor is larger than about 2 to 21/2 inches, it is most likely cancer.
Some cancers start in other organs and then spread to the adrenal glands. For example, lung cancer often spreads to the adrenals. But these cancers are still named after the place where they started. They are not called adrenal cancers.
http://www.cancer.org/
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