Adrenal adenomas are mostly encountered during body scans for unrelated conditions and they are generally non-cancerous tumors of the adrenal gland. The adrenal glands are situated on the top of each kidney and adenomas arise from the adrenal cortex.
Adrenal cortex makes steroid hormones and the adenoma is termed as functioning if it produces such hormones. But if an adrenal adenoma that is producing hormones is not treated, it can have serious consequences. The cause of adrenal adenomas is yet unknown but it is said that it is caused due to mutation in genes.
The symptoms of adrenal adenoma are not generally traceable but one can always find production of abnormal amounts of steroid hormones. Commonly, cortisol is produced in large amounts, which is a steroid hormone responsible for stress and energy balance, resulting in Cushing’s syndrome and too much of aldosterone causes Conn’s syndrome and excessive male steroids cause acne and hair growth.
Adrenal adenomas procedure starts with consulting an endocrinologist who will look for various symptoms and cancerous growths. The tests include urine collection for adrenaline and non-adrenaline, blood tests, a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and chest x-ray and MRI scan of adrenal glands.
The treatment undertaken for functioning adenoma is to surgically remove the affected adrenal gland called adrenalectomy. This is also carried out laparoscopically at some medical centers. Any adrenal gland which is of uncertain nature is to be removed to avoid adrenal cancer.
Adrenal cortex makes steroid hormones and the adenoma is termed as functioning if it produces such hormones. But if an adrenal adenoma that is producing hormones is not treated, it can have serious consequences. The cause of adrenal adenomas is yet unknown but it is said that it is caused due to mutation in genes.
The symptoms of adrenal adenoma are not generally traceable but one can always find production of abnormal amounts of steroid hormones. Commonly, cortisol is produced in large amounts, which is a steroid hormone responsible for stress and energy balance, resulting in Cushing’s syndrome and too much of aldosterone causes Conn’s syndrome and excessive male steroids cause acne and hair growth.
Adrenal adenomas procedure starts with consulting an endocrinologist who will look for various symptoms and cancerous growths. The tests include urine collection for adrenaline and non-adrenaline, blood tests, a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and chest x-ray and MRI scan of adrenal glands.
The treatment undertaken for functioning adenoma is to surgically remove the affected adrenal gland called adrenalectomy. This is also carried out laparoscopically at some medical centers. Any adrenal gland which is of uncertain nature is to be removed to avoid adrenal cancer.
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