What is adrenal cortical cancer?

Types of adrenal gland tumours

There are 3 types of adrenal gland tumours:

• adrenal cortical cancer (ACC)

• phaeochromocytoma (pronounced fey-oh-cromo-sy-toma)

• adenomas - these are not cancer, they are ​benign​   

This information is about ACC. We also have separate information about phaeochromocytoma.

Go to information about phaeochromocytoma

We have information about adenomas further down this page.

Secondary cancer in the adrenal glands

Secondary cancer in the adrenal glands is more common than a cancer that starts in them. A secondary cancer is one that starts in one part of the body and spreads to another. So, a secondary adrenal cancer is one that has started elsewhere and spread to the adrenal glands.

For example, kidney cancer can spread to the adrenal glands. Doctors call this secondary kidney cancer. If this happens, you have the same treatment as kidney cancer, not adrenal gland cancer. This means the treatment you need will depend on where the cancer started.

Search for your cancer type on our A-Z list of cancer types

The adrenal glands

There are 2 adrenal glands, one above each kidney. Adrenal means next to the kidney.

The adrenal glands are small but very important. They make hormones that help the body work properly and are vital to life.

The adrenal glands have 2 layers:

• the outer layer or cortex

• the inner layer or medulla

Tumours can start in either of these areas. Adrenal cortical tumours start in the cortex.

What hormones do adrenal glands make?

The cortex layer of the adrenal gland makes important hormones. The hormones include:

• cortisol which helps control the blood pressure, blood sugar levels, ​immune system​ and stress response

• aldosterone which helps to balance the levels of salt and water in the body

• sex hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone

The medulla layer of the adrenal gland makes hormones that are important for the flight and fight reaction. These hormones help us deal with pressure or ‘threats’. This includes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Risks and causes of ACC

It is not known what causes most ACC.

A small number of people are born with ​gene​  changes that increase their risk of developing ACC. These inherited gene changes are rare. They include:

• Li Fraumeni syndrome

• Lynch syndrome

• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

• familial adenomatous polyposis

• multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)

• carney complex

Find out more about inherited genes and cancer types

Symptoms of ACC

Some ACCs make hormones. Doctors call these functioning tumours. Some ACC tumours don’t make hormones. They are non functioning tumours.

You are more likely to have symptoms if your cancer makes hormones. The symptoms you have depends on the type of hormone the tumour produces.

Possible symptoms if your cancer makes hormones

Having too much cortisol in your body can cause a group of symptoms known as Cushing’s syndrome. You might have the following symptoms if you have too much cortisol or aldosterone in your body:

• swelling of the face giving a rounded appearance

• acne on your face

• muscle wasting and weakness in the legs and arms, making them look thinner

• weight gain that is more noticeable in the trunk of the body

• high blood pressure

• thinning and darkening of the skin

• bruising easily

• stretch marks which might have a purple colour

• flushing of the face

• a fatty hump at the top of your back

• feeling generally unwell

• mood swings

• feeling thirsty

• developing diabetes

You might have the following symptoms if your cancer makes too many sex hormones:

• women might have a deepening of the voice, changes in periods, loss of hair or growth of facial hair

• men may have loss of sex drive (libido), impotence and sometimes swelling of the breasts

Possible symptoms if your cancer doesn’t make hormones

Cancers that don't make hormones might not cause symptoms until they are advanced. Possible symptoms include:

• pain in your tummy (abdomen)

• tiredness

• weight loss

• feeling or being sick

How common is ACC?

ACC is rare. In the UK, around 260 people are diagnosed with adrenal gland cancer every year.

Adrenal gland cancer includes ACC and phaeochromocytoma.

Diagnosing ACC

You usually need several tests if your doctor thinks you have an ACC. You will have blood and urine tests and scans such as CT and MRI scans.

Find out how doctors diagnose ACC

Adenoma of the adrenal glands

An adenoma is a benign tumour. This means that adenomas are not cancer. They are a type of tumour that can also start in the outer layer of the adrenal glands (the cortex).

Adenomas are often found by chance when people are having scans for other reasons. Doctors sometimes call them adrenal incidentaloma.

Most adenomas do not make hormones. They are non functioning tumours. But some do make adrenal hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. These are functioning tumours or hormone secreting tumours. When the tumour produces lots of these hormones it can cause symptoms.

You might not need treatment if you have an adenoma. You usually only need it if the tumour is growing or making large amounts of hormones.