Adrenal tumor - diagnosis (2023)

ON THIS PAGE:You'll find a list of common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors use to find the cause of a medical problem. Use the menu to view other pages.

Doctors use many tests to find or diagnose a tumor. They also do tests to find out whether the tumor is cancerous and, if so, whether it has spread to another part of the body from where it started. If this happens, it is called metastases. Some tests can also determine which treatments may be most effective.

To diagnose an adrenal tumor, your doctor will carry out blood and urine tests (see below) to detect the presence of certain substances which will help determine whether the tumor is 'active' or 'inactive' (seeEntrance). Computed tomography (CT or CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (see below) may be helpful in making a diagnosis and determining whether an adrenal tumor is cancerous. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body and can be used to see if a cancerous tumor has spread. Doctors can also run tests to find out which treatments might work best.

How is an adrenal tumor diagnosed?

There are many tests used to diagnose an adrenal tumor. Not all of the tests described here will apply to every person. Your doctor may consider the following factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

• Type of suspected tumor

• Your signs and symptoms

  See Also

  Adrenal Cancer Test | Diagnosing Adrenal CancerAdrenal adenoma: symptoms and treatmentAdrenal tumor - diagnosisA breakthrough in differentiating benign adrenal tumors from cancer - Mayo Clinic Press

• Your age and general health

• Results of previous medical examinations

In addition to a physical exam, the following tests may be used to diagnose an adrenal tumor:

• Blood and urine tests.Blood and urine tests help measure the amount of adrenal hormones, which can tell your doctor whether a tumor is functional or not. A 24-hour urine sample may also be required. This test requires a person to collect all of their urine over a 24-hour period so it can be used for laboratory testing. The test results help your doctor track how quickly different hormones are produced.

  One of the hormones doctors look for in these tests is a stress hormone called cortisol. A specific test, called the dexamethasone suppression test, checks your cortisol levels. For this test, you may be asked to take a pill the night before. This pill contains a drug that acts like cortisol in the body. When a person who does not have an adrenal tumor takes this drug, their body produces less cortisol and other hormones. However, if someone has an adrenal tumor, cortisol levels will remain high even after taking the medicine. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, even over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies, as this information is necessary to correctly interpret the results of this test.

• Biopsy.INbiopsyinvolves taking a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. If the doctor suspects that the cancer has spread to the adrenal glands from another part of the body, a biopsy may be done to find out where the cancer started, which can help the doctor plan treatment. During a biopsy, a narrow, hollow needle is used to extract tissue. This is called a fine needle biopsy or fine needle aspiration. The biopsy is performed by a radiologist who uses specialized imaging procedures such as a CT scan (see below) to insert a needle directly into the tumor. The pathologist then analyzes the sample(s) removed during the biopsy. A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. An assessment of hormone production should be performed before biopsy of an unknown adrenal mass to ensure that the tumor is not producing catecholamines.

• computed tomography or computed tomography.INcomputed tomographytakes pictures of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. The computer then combines these images into a detailed three-dimensional image that shows any abnormalities or tumors. Sometimes a special dye called a contrast agent is administered before the scan to give the image more detail. This dye can be injected into a patient's vein through a peripheral intravenous (IV) line. This line is a short plastic tube that is inserted into a vein that allows healthcare professionals to administer medications or fluids.

• MR.SomeMRuses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to create detailed images of the body. MRI can also be used to measure the size of a tumor. Before the test, a special dye called a contrast agent is given to get a clearer picture. This dye can be injected into a vein or given as a pill to swallow.

• Metaiodobenzyloguanidyny (MIBG) scanning.MIBG is an adrenaline-like chemical that accumulates in a neuroendocrine tumor. An MIBG scan can show an adrenal medullary tumor that may not show up on an X-ray. Scanning is performed on 2 consecutive days. On the first day, an injection with MIBG is given in the arm. A few hours later, pictures are taken with a special camera that can show if and where in the body MIBG has collected. The next morning, more pictures are taken and the process can be repeated if necessary.

• Adrenal vein sampling (AVS).In rare cases, a patient may have symptoms of a hormone-producing tumor, but a CT or MRI scan may not detect the tumor, or the patient may have small tumors in both adrenal glands. In these cases, the interventional radiologist may test blood from the veins in each adrenal gland. Blood from each gland is tested to determine if the extra hormone is coming from the adrenal gland along with the tumor. This procedure is performed only by specialists and takes place in a special radiology center.

• DOTATATE Positron Emission Tomography (PET) eller PET-CT-scanning.A PET scan is usually combined with a CT scan (see above), called PET orPET-CT examination. During this test, a small amount of a radioactive drug, called a tracer, is injected into the patient's vein. The body is then scanned to show where the radioactivity has accumulated in the body. But the amount of radiation in the substance is too low to be harmful. For a pheochromocytoma that is suspected to be inherited, recurrent, or multisite, a special PET scan is performed using a special compound called DOTATATE. This is a newer scan that is useful in evaluating these conditions.Learn more about pheochromocytoma.

After the diagnostic tests are done, your doctor will discuss the results with you. If the diagnosis is a tumor, these results also help the doctor describe it. This is called staging.

Thethe next section of this guide is Stages. It explains the system doctors use to describe the severity of an illness. Use the menu to select a different section to read in this guide.