Imaging of an Adrenal Tumor Abdominal CT:Īdrenal masses larger than 5 cm are suspicious for a malignant tumor. Other tests are necessary depending on clinical suspicion or the results of the above mentioned screening tests.24-hour urine collection: sodium, potassium, cortisol, aldosterone, vanillin mandelic acid and metanephrines.The next day, the morning cortisol should be below 50 nmol/l (2 mg/dl). Dexamethasone suppression test: administration of 2 mg dexamethasone p.o.Serum blood tests: sodium, potassium, aldosterone, ACTH, cortisol.Hormone activity of the adrenal tumor is assessed with blood tests and hormone assays from 24-hour urine collection: Tumors with origin from neighboring organs such as kidney tumor, pancreas, spleen, bile ducts, blood vessels, lymph nodes.ĭiagnostic Work-Up of an Adrenal Tumor Determination of Hormone Activity.Metastases: breast cancer, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, lymphoma.Rare benign tumors: hematoma, inflammatory tumors, ganglioneuroma, lipoma, fibroma, adrenal cyst, oncocytoma.Adrenal adenoma: with or without hormone activity.Rarely, adrenal tumor cause abdominal pain due to local growth and infiltration. Symptoms depending on hormone production are Cushing syndrome, virilization, feminization, Conn syndrome. Most of the adrenal tumors do not cause any symptoms. In 20%, treatment is necessary because of hormonal activity or tumor growth.

80% of incidentalomas have no hormone production and are without clinical significance.

You are here: Urology Textbook > Signs and symptoms > Adrenal tumor Adrenal Tumor: Symptoms and Differential DiagnosisĪn incidentally discovered adrenal tumor is also called incidentaloma. Adrenal Tumor: Symptoms and Differential Diagnosis

Symptoms of an adrenal tumor