What is the medical term for adrenal glands?
What is the medical term for adrenal glands?
Adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangular-shaped glands located on top of both kidneys. Adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
What is the meaning of adrenal gland?
Listen to pronunciation. (uh-DREE-nul…) A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions.
What kind of tumor is in the adrenal glands?
Benign adrenal tumors. Overview. Benign adrenal tumors are noncancerous masses that form in the adrenal glands. As part of your endocrine system, the adrenal glands produce hormones that give instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in your body. You have two adrenal glands, one above each kidney.
How big is a benign adenoma on the adrenal gland?
Benign adenomas are relatively small, usually less than 2 inches in diameter. Most people with this type of tumor have no symptoms. These tumors usually occur on only one adrenal gland, but they can appear on both glands in rare instances. Adrenal cortical carcinomas are usually much larger than benign adenomas.
Can a benign adrenal tumor cause uncomfortable symptoms?
Even benign adrenal tumors can be dangerous or cause uncomfortable symptoms. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, which releases hormones into the blood system. Hormones are important in many body processes, including metabolism, sexual development and puberty, and stress. There are two adrenal glands, one on the top of each kidney.
Is there a cure for cancer of the adrenal glands?
Treatment can be used to delay progression or recurrence. Most growths that form in the adrenal glands are noncancerous (benign). Benign adrenal tumors, such as adenoma or pheochromocytoma, also can develop in the adrenal glands.
What is the prognosis for adrenal gland cancer?
Lung and adrenal gland cancer prognosis for stage 4 is less than 10% survival rate. There is only 8-month median survival period in which one half among patients have died and one half survived.
What are the stages of adrenal cancer?
The adrenal cancer stages range from stages I (1) through IV (4). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means a more advanced cancer.
What are the symptoms of adrenal tumor?
Common Symptoms. Some common symptoms associated with adrenal gland tumors are low potassium levels, high blood pressure, nervousness, anxiety, heart palpitations, diabetes and developing stretch marks over the abdominal area.
Should an adrenal tumor be biopsied?
No. In general, an adrenal tumor should not be biopsied until a full hormonal/biochemical or functional work up has been done by either the endocrinologist, surgeon or primary MD. If a diagnosis can’t be made after that and it is clear that the tumor is not functional or producing hormones than a multidisciplinary tumor board can discuss a biopsy.