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

When your adrenal tumor, an abnormal growth on one or both adrenal glands that can disrupt hormone production. Also known as adrenal mass, it may be harmless or trigger serious health issues depending on whether it makes extra hormones. These tiny glands sit on top of your kidneys and control key functions like stress response, blood pressure, and metabolism. Not every adrenal tumor is cancerous—most are benign—but even non-cancerous ones can cause big problems if they pump out too much cortisol, adrenaline, or aldosterone.

There are different types of adrenal tumors, and each behaves differently. A pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor that overproduces adrenaline and noradrenaline can send your heart racing, spike your blood pressure, and cause sweating so bad you soak through clothes. Then there’s Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by too much cortisol, often from a tumor in the adrenal gland, which leads to weight gain around the midsection, thinning skin, and muscle weakness. These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re real conditions with clear symptoms you can spot early. If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, have unexplained high blood pressure, or notice sudden changes in your body shape, it’s worth asking your doctor about adrenal function.

What triggers these tumors? In most cases, no one knows. They don’t usually run in families, and lifestyle choices like diet or stress don’t directly cause them. But if you’ve been diagnosed with another hormone-related disorder—like high blood pressure that won’t respond to meds, or unexplained low potassium—you might be closer to the root than you think. Testing usually starts with blood and urine tests to check hormone levels, followed by a CT or MRI scan to see the tumor’s size and location. Treatment isn’t always surgery. Some small, non-functioning tumors just need monitoring. Others need removal, especially if they’re making too much hormone or growing fast.

You’ll find articles here that dig into how adrenal tumors connect to other health issues—like how they interact with medications, what side effects you might miss, and how symptoms can show up years after the tumor starts. Some posts talk about delayed reactions to drugs that mimic adrenal problems. Others compare treatments, explain lab results, or warn about supplements that could make things worse. Whether you’re dealing with a recent diagnosis, know someone who is, or just want to understand why your body feels off, this collection gives you real, no-fluff answers. No jargon. No guesswork. Just what you need to ask the right questions and take control.