Growths or tumours of the adrenal glands are quite common and may be seen in 5-8% of patients having abdominal scans. Often these tumours are benign (non-cancerous) and not producing any excess hormone and no treatment is needed.

Cancerous tumours of the adrenal glands are fortunately rare. They tend to be more aggressive and where possible, surgical excision is the best first line treatment.

Tumours of the adrenal medulla which overproduce adrenaline can cause quite dramatic symptoms including severe high blood pressure, heart racing, sweating and headaches. These tumours require surgery after stabilisation of the blood pressure.

Tumours producing excess cortisol can lead to central obesity, muscle weakness, easy bruising and roundness of the face. The diagnosis of Cushing syndrome may not be straightforward and requires expert assessment often in conjunction with an endocrinologist.

Conn’s syndrome or primary aldosteronism occurs when excess aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands. This can cause high blood pressure and is suspected when patients have difficult to control blood pressure requiring multiple blood pressure medications and/or low potassium levels. Sometimes this is caused by a small benign tumour on one adrenal gland but excess hormone can also be coming from both adrenal glands in some patients. Once again this requires specialised investigation with an endocrinologist and a specialised adrenal vein sampling procedure before being considered for surgical management, which in the appropriately selected patient can lead to cure of high blood pressure.