Adrenal Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

When you hear adrenal tumor, an abnormal growth on one or both adrenal glands, which sit just above your kidneys and produce vital hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Also known as adrenal mass, it can be harmless or life-threatening depending on whether it produces excess hormones or spreads to other organs. Most adrenal tumors aren’t cancer, but they still need attention because they can throw your whole system out of balance.

These tumors often show up during tests for other issues, like high blood pressure or unexplained weight gain. If your body makes too much cortisol, a stress hormone that regulates metabolism and immune response, you might develop Cushing’s syndrome—fat around the midsection, thin arms and legs, easy bruising, and mood swings. If the tumor overproduces catecholamines, chemicals like adrenaline that spike heart rate and blood pressure, you could have a pheochromocytoma, which causes sudden sweating, panic attacks, and dangerous blood pressure spikes. Not all tumors cause symptoms, but when they do, it’s usually because they’re making hormones your body doesn’t need.

Doctors use blood and urine tests to spot hormone imbalances, then confirm with CT or MRI scans. Surgery is the main treatment for tumors that are large, hormone-active, or suspicious for cancer. Smaller, non-functioning tumors might just need monitoring. If it’s cancer, treatment can include surgery, radiation, or targeted drugs—though adrenal cancer is rare and often found late. What matters most is catching it early. Many people live fine with small, silent tumors, but ignoring symptoms like unexplained weight changes, persistent headaches, or irregular heartbeats can cost you time—and health.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides on how adrenal tumors connect to other health issues—from high blood pressure meds to hormone imbalances—and how people manage them day to day. No fluff. Just clear info on what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to know if you or someone you care about is dealing with this.