Adrenal masses are growths that develop on the adrenal glands. They can be benign or malignant, and may be functioning (hormone-producing) or non-functioning.2 The seven entries below cover the main reasons an adrenal mass is investigated and treated.
The most common adrenal growth. Usually benign; may be hormone-active or silent.
Medullary tumour that produces adrenaline and noradrenaline, causing blood pressure surges.
Aldosterone-producing adenoma causing difficult-to-control high blood pressure and low potassium.
Cortisol excess from a cortical adenoma or, less often, adrenal hyperplasia or carcinoma.
Rare primary cancer of the adrenal cortex; treatment usually involves surgery with oncological margins.
Secondary cancer spread from lung, kidney, melanoma or breast primaries; selected cases are treated surgically.
A mass found by chance on imaging done for an unrelated reason. Most are benign and non-functioning; workup is still needed.
The workup for any adrenal mass focuses on two questions: is it hormone-active, and is it suspicious for cancer? The answers drive whether surgery is needed and, if so, how urgently.
The core assessment is the same across conditions:
Further reading for GPs and referrers is on the for-GPs page.
You can request a second opinion on imaging, hormone testing and treatment options before you decide.