Adrenal Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Need to Know

When an adrenal tumor, an abnormal growth on one or both adrenal glands. Also known as adrenal mass, it can disrupt the hormones your body uses to control stress, blood pressure, and metabolism. These glands sit right on top of your kidneys and make key hormones like cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline. Not every adrenal tumor is cancerous—many are benign and never cause problems. But some release too much hormone, leading to serious symptoms you can’t ignore.

There are different types, and each affects your body differently. A pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor that overproduces adrenaline and noradrenaline can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure, pounding heartbeats, and sweating attacks. A tumor making too much aldosterone, a hormone that regulates sodium and potassium balance leads to high blood pressure and low potassium, often mistaken for simple hypertension. And if the tumor overproduces cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, you might gain weight in your face and belly, develop stretch marks, or feel unusually weak. These aren’t just random symptoms—they’re signs your adrenal glands are out of balance.

Most adrenal tumors are found by accident during scans for other issues. But if you have unexplained high blood pressure, sudden weight gain, muscle weakness, or mood swings, it’s worth asking your doctor about adrenal testing. Blood and urine tests can spot hormone imbalances, and imaging like CT or MRI shows the tumor’s size and location. Treatment depends on whether it’s making hormones, how big it is, and if it’s cancerous. Some just need monitoring. Others require surgery—or medication to control hormone levels first.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides on how adrenal tumors connect to broader health issues: how hormone imbalances mimic other diseases, what medications can help manage symptoms, and how treatments interact with other conditions like diabetes or heart disease. These aren’t theory-heavy articles—they’re written for people who need clear answers, not medical jargon.