Types of Adrenal Tumors

The treatment your doctor recommends will depend on what type of adrenal tumor you have. The following are the most common types of adrenal tumors.

• Incidentalomas Incidental adenomas of the adrenal gland — also called incidentalomas — are tumors that are found unexpectedly during an imaging test for an unrelated health problem.
• Aldosteronomas Aldosteronomas are a type of benign adrenal tumor that produces excess aldosterone. They are a common cause of Conn syndrome, also called hyperaldosteronism.
• Adrenal Cortex Tumors These tumors produce too much cortisol, a hormone that affects metabolism and helps the body recover from physical stress. Tumors of the adrenal cortex can cause a condition called Cushing’s syndrome.
• Pheochromocytomas & Paragangliomas Pheochromocytomas are adrenal tumors that produce excess catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine).
• Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma Malignant (cancerous) tumors that arise in the adrenal cortex of the adrenal gland are called adrenal cortical carcinoma.