What does a mass on your adrenal gland mean?
Adrenal masses can cause hormone levels to grow too high and result in high blood pressure. A problem inside the adrenal gland could be caused by a disease or mass in or around the gland. Adrenal disorders could also be from outside the gland.
How do you treat a mass on the adrenal gland?
The first treatment for adrenal cortex tumors is surgery. For a while after the operation, you may need to take cortisol-replacement medication, such as hydrocortisone or prednisone, while we wait for your adrenal gland to begin producing normal levels of the hormone again.
Should adrenal gland tumors be removed?
Most adrenal tumors are noncancerous (benign). You may need surgery (adrenalectomy) to remove an adrenal gland if the tumor is producing excess hormones or is large in size (more than 2 inches or 4 to 5 centimeters). If you have a cancerous tumor, you also may need an adrenalectomy.
What kind of surgeon removes adrenal tumors?
Endocrine surgeons at Mayo Clinic are often able to use minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery for tumors of the adrenal gland because the gland is relatively small. Doctors perform laparoscopic surgery through several small cuts (incisions). This type of surgery uses a tiny camera and surgical instruments.
Can an adrenal mass cause pain?
As an adrenal cancer grows, it presses on nearby organs and tissues. This may cause pain near the tumor, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, or trouble eating because of a feeling of filling up easily.
Who treats adrenal gland mass?
A surgical oncologist: a doctor who uses surgery to treat cancer. An endocrinologist: a doctor who treats diseases in glands that secrete hormones. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer. A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer.
How long is recovery from adrenal gland surgery?
After laparoscopic adrenalectomy, most patients have returned to their normal routine after 2 to 4 weeks. The overall recovery time after open adrenalectomy is significantly slower and patients should plan on 4 to 6 weeks of recuperation.
Can you live without your adrenal gland?
Humans cannot live without adrenal glands, so if both adrenal glands are removed (very rarely necessary), then the patient needs to take medications and supplements to provide the necessary hormones.
