When the tumor is found at the early stage and can be removed surgically, the five-year survival rate is 50-60 percent. The prognosis for adrenal cancers that have spread to nearby or distant organs is much less favorable, with only 10-20 percent surviving five years.
Adrenocortical cancers are often aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) rapidly. The adrenal gland is one of the most vascular organs in the body, with many blood vessels that can carry malignant cells throughout the body.
The 5-year survival rate for people with adrenocortical carcinoma is 50%. However, the survival rate depends on different factors, including the extent (or stage) of cancer at the time it is diagnosed. Other factors that affect survival include the person's age and whether the tumor produces hormones.
When adrenal cancer is found early, there is a chance for cure. But if the cancer has spread to areas beyond the adrenal glands, cure becomes less likely. Treatment can be used to delay progression or recurrence. Most growths that form in the adrenal glands are noncancerous (benign).
Early adrenal cancer: In stage 1 or stage 2, the tumor is still relatively small and hasn't spread beyond the adrenal gland. Advanced adrenal cancer: Stage 3 and stage 4 adrenal cancer means the tumor has spread to other parts of your body. Usually, cancer cells spread first to nearby lymph nodes.
The most common organ to which adrenal cortical cancer spreads (distant metastases) are the liver and lung.
The causes of adrenal tumors are not fully understood, although we know that some rare genetic conditions increase the risk. These include multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, von Hippel–Lindau syndrome, familial paraganglioma syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Carney complex, and Li–Fraumeni syndrome.
Although the adrenal glands are essential for life, one gland can usually do the work of both. Doctors also remove the entire gland if you have a cancerous tumor called an adrenocortical carcinoma or if you have cancer that has spread to the adrenal gland from another part of the body.
When the tumor is found at the early stage and can be removed surgically, the five-year survival rate is 50-60 percent. The prognosis for adrenal cancers that have spread to nearby or distant organs is much less favorable, with only 10-20 percent surviving five years.
This is because benign nodules can grow. The results of our study show that approximately one-third of radiologically proven adrenal adenomas grow over time, and all adenomas that grew did so at a rate less than 3 mm/year, whereas all malignant adrenal nodules grew faster than 5 mm/year.
A growth rate of 3 mm/year distinguished adenomas from malignant nodules with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 86.8–100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 96.6–100%). CONCLUSION. Approximately one-third of radiologically proven adrenal adenomas grew, all of which grew at a rate less than 3 mm/year.
“Although the majority of these tumors are benign, around 30% of adrenal tumors greater than 4 cm are malignant - most represented by adrenal cortical carcinoma, and the survival rate for these patients is very poor unless detected early.”
Chemo does not work very well for adrenal cancer, so it is most often used for adrenal cancer that has become too widespread to be removed with surgery (although it is very unlikely to cure the cancer).
As an adrenal cancer grows, it presses on nearby organs and tissues. This may cause pain near the tumor, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, or trouble eating because of a feeling of filling up easily.
Tumors in your pituitary gland most often cause Cushing's syndrome, but adrenal tumors can also lead to Cushing's syndrome. Symptoms include high blood pressure, weight gain (especially around your middle) and sexual dysfunction. It can increase your likelihood of diabetes.
Adrenal tumors are usually removed with a minimally invasive surgery called a laparoscopic adrenalectomy. When you remove an adrenal tumor, you remove the associated adrenal gland with it. Your body can easily adapt to having only one adrenal gland secreting the hormones necessary for your daily living.
A functional adrenal tumor: a functional adrenal tumor causes an imbalance of adrenal hormones. Removal of the tumor may restore normal adrenal function. Large adrenal tumor: Other reasons to remove an adrenal gland are for adrenal tumors that are greater than 4 to 6 cm or have grown in size.
A computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (see below) may be useful in making a diagnosis and finding out whether an adrenal gland tumor is cancerous. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body and may be used to see if a cancerous tumor has spread.
Genetic syndromes
The majority of adrenal cortex cancers are not inherited (sporadic), but some (up to 15%) are caused by a genetic defect. This is more common in adrenal cancers in children.
Surgeons often perform a procedure called an adrenalectomy to remove a benign adrenal tumor. They can often use a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery for tumors in the adrenal gland. This procedure uses small cuts (incisions) instead of the large cut that's used in open surgery.
Adenoma. This is the most common type of adrenal gland tumor. Adenoma is also called an adrenocortical adenoma. It is a noncancerous tumor of the adrenal cortex that can be functioning or nonfunctioning.
Median overall survival time for all patients was 3.21 years. Median survival times were 24.1, 6.08, 3.47, and 0.89 years for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively.
Your doctor will thoroughly examine your abdomen for evidence of a tumor (or mass). Your blood and urine will likely be tested to look for high levels of the hormones made by some adrenal tumors. If an adrenal tumor is suspected, imaging tests will be done to look for it. These tests can also help see if it has spread.
Rupture of an adrenal pheochromocytoma is extremely rare and can be lethal, with a mortality rate of approximately 32%. Most of the patients present abdominal pain of acute onset, while some patients complain of lumbar or chest pain. The exact mechanism of pheochromocytoma rupture remains unknown.