Abdominal Pain: Larger tumours (>6 cm) may cause discomfort by pressing on surrounding structures.
Metastatic Lesions:
- Result from cancers in other organs (lung, breast, kidney).
- Grow rapidly and appear irregular on imaging.
Symptoms of Adrenal Incidentaloma
Most adrenal incidentalomas do not cause symptoms, but when they do, it is typically due to hormone production or tumour size. If the adrenal incidentalomas are functional, they can lead to symptoms that vary based on the tumour size, the hormone secreted and the underlying diagnosis.
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Adrenal Adenomas
These are the most common benign tumours of the adrenal cortex. They are often non-functional and do not cause symptoms.
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Pheochromocytoma
A tumour of the adrenal medulla that produces excess adrenaline and noradrenaline, leading to sudden episodes of high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and severe headaches.
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Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma
A rare but aggressive cancer arising in the outer layer of the adrenal gland. These tumours can grow quickly and may spread to other organs. Some adrenocortical carcinomas produce excess hormones, causing symptoms such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and metabolic changes.
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Cushing’s Syndrome Tumours
These types of tumours secrete excess cortisol, leading to Cushing’s syndrome, which causes weight gain, muscle weakness, thinning skin, and mood disturbances. These tumours can be benign (adenomas) or malignant (adrenal cortical carcinoma).
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Aldosteronoma
These tumours overproduce aldosterone, leading to high blood pressure and low potassium levels. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, frequent urination, and increased thirst.
