Adrenal cancer is rare and found in only about 200 people a year in the United States.
Because of its rarity, there is no standard screening process for early detection. It is also difficult to detect because it shares symptoms with many more common diseases. Early detection is easier in children. Since adrenal cancer results in hormone imbalances, abnormal growth patterns can be easily observed, like excessive facial hair growth in young girls when androgen is overproduced and enlargement of the reproductive organs and the breasts if estrogen production becomes excessive. This early puberty development is a cause for concern and should immediately be referred to a doctor for testing.
Adrenal cancer is usually found when the tumor is already large enough to cause pain in the abdominal area. A typical symptom is the constant feeling of ‘fullness’ despite not eating frequently, and pain in the other organs as the tumor rubs against them. If you have any of the signs and symptoms of adrenal cancer, seek immediate medical help.
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If you have any of the signs and symptoms of adrenal cancer, your doctor will first want to have your complete medical history. A family history of adrenal cancer or other cancers may make you more vulnerable to the disease. The doctor will also need to obtain data for any menstrual irregularities if you are a woman. If you are a man and are taking synthetic bodybuilding drugs like testosterone or growth hormones, it is important to inform your doctor of the kinds, dosages, and length of your usage. Bodybuilding drugs can cause similar symptoms to adrenal cancer in males, like gynecomastia and hormonal imbalances.
The doctor will perform a thorough physical exam and check your abdominal area for any masses. Blood and urine tests will be done to see if any hormone levels are elevated. If adrenal cancer is suspected, imaging tests will be conducted.
If a mass is seen on an imaging test that is suspected to be adrenal cancer, doctors do not recommend a biopsy. In cases of adrenal cancer done before surgery, a biopsy may only result in the further spreading of the cancer.
A standard chest x-ray will be done to see if the adrenal cancer has spread to the lungs where the adrenal glands are near.
Ultrasound tests use sound waves reflected off the tissues and organs to produce an image of the inside of the body, and spot any tumors that may have grown. Ultrasounds are generally less preferred for adrenal cancer diagnosis and are only used if a CT scan cannot be done.
A CT scan can show a clearer image of adrenal tumors, as well as their location, and if the tumor has spread to nearby areas like the liver or lungs. CT scans can also show nearby lymph nodes where the cancer may have spread. The CT scan can help your doctor determine if surgery will be necessary.
MRIs use radio waves and strong magnets to produce a detailed image of your internal organs, and can help better distinguish benign from malignant tumors. The MRI can also be used to scan the brain and spinal cord to look for tumors in the pituitary gland since pituitary gland tumors can also cause symptoms similar to adrenal cancer.
A PET scan involves injecting a slightly radioactive sugar into the blood, which is mostly collected by cancer cells. A special camera is then used to generate a picture that maps the areas of absorption. This can help determine whether your tumors are cancerous or not.
A laparoscope is a thin flexible tube with a video camera at the end that can be inserted into the body to allow the doctor to see inside. It can be used to examine tumor growth, and spread, and whether it is possible to entirely remove the tumor via surgery. The laparoscope may also be used for tumor removal by using additional attachments.
Biopsy involves taking samples of the tissues suspected to be affected with cancer and studying them in the laboratory. Benign and malignant adrenal tumors look the same in the microscope and needle biopsies can increase the risk of spreading the cancer. Because of this, biopsies are rarely used if the imaging tests reveal a high likelihood of adrenal cancer. If the cancer has already spread or metastasized, however, a biopsy will be done on the metastasis to assess the condition further.
Since elevated hormone levels are the primary indicators of adrenal cancer, blood and urine tests are crucial in diagnosis. Urine samples may need to be taken for 24 hours with a drug called dexamethasone given to the patient. Dexamethasone mimics cortisol, and if a person without adrenal tumors takes it, hormone levels will be lowered.
To detect high cortisol from an adrenal tumor, blood and urine cortisol levels will be measured. These will be elevated with excess cortisol production. The dexamethasone suppression test can also be used - dexamethasone normally lowers cortisol, but levels remain high in someone with an adrenal tumor. ACTH levels help distinguish adrenal tumors from other causes of high cortisol.
Excess aldosterone from a tumor is detected by measuring high aldosterone levels. High aldosterone also leads to low blood potassium and renin levels.
Androgen-producing tumors cause high blood levels of DHEAS or testosterone, while Estrogen-producing tumors lead to high estrogen levels in the blood.
If you or a loved one have suffered from a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis for your adrenal cancer, contact us at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who are suffering as you are. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.
