Adrenal Gland Adenoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Adrenal Gland Adenoma?
An endocrinologist, a doctor who treats hormone problems, usually leads care. A surgeon removes the gland when surgery is needed. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is adrenal gland adenoma?
An adrenal gland adenoma is a benign lump in an adrenal gland. Benign means it is not cancer. You have two adrenal glands. They sit on top of your kidneys and make hormones. Hormones control many jobs in the body.
Most of these lumps cause no trouble. About 85% of adrenal tumors do not make hormones and may not need treatment. Many are found by chance during a scan done for another reason. Doctors call that kind of finding an adrenal incidentaloma. An adenoma does not spread to other parts of the body.
Symptoms
Most adrenal gland adenomas cause no symptoms. Some make too much hormone. The signs then depend on which hormone is too high:
- Too much cortisol can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, weak muscles, and purple stretch marks. Doctors call this Cushing syndrome.
- Too much aldosterone, a hormone that controls salt and blood pressure, can cause high blood pressure that is hard to control and low potassium.
- Tiredness and muscle weakness can happen when hormone levels are too high.
In rare cases, a very large adrenal lump can press on nearby parts. Most lumps big enough to do this are cancer.
Causes and who gets it
Doctors do not know exactly why these lumps form. Gene changes inside the gland cells may play a part. These changes are not usually passed down from parents.
These lumps can appear at many ages. They show up more often in women than in men. The average age at diagnosis is about 57.
How doctors diagnose it
Doctors first look at the lump with a CT scan or an MRI. These scans show its size. They help doctors tell a benign lump from a cancer.
Then blood tests check hormone levels. Doctors test for too much cortisol and too much aldosterone. They also rule out a pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor of the adrenal gland.
A needle biopsy is rarely used. It cannot tell a benign gland lump from a cancer.
Treatment
The right care depends on the size of the lump and whether it makes hormones.
- Small lumps that make no hormones need no treatment. Doctors watch them with follow-up scans and yearly hormone tests.
- Surgery to remove the gland, called an adrenalectomy, is the preferred treatment when the lump is bigger than 4 cm, may be cancer, or makes too much hormone.
- If you cannot have surgery, medicines can block the extra hormone or its effects in the body.
After surgery for high cortisol, you may take steroid pills for a while. This gives your body time to recover. These pills carry a risk of adrenal insufficiency, when your body does not make enough of its own steroid hormone. Follow your doctor's instructions about these pills and never stop them on your own.
When to see a doctor
If a scan finds an adrenal lump, talk to your doctor about it. See a doctor if you have high blood pressure that is hard to control, unexplained weight gain, or muscle weakness. These can be signs of too much hormone. Get care right away if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat with sweating and severe headaches, because these can be signs of too much adrenaline hormone. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away for chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, trouble breathing, fainting, sudden weakness or a sudden change in vision, or bleeding that will not stop. If you take steroid pills after surgery, also call 911 for severe or ongoing vomiting or confusion.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. This doctor can help watch a small lump over time and refer you to a hormone specialist or surgeon when needed.
Common questions
Is an adrenal gland adenoma cancer?
No. An adrenal gland adenoma is benign and does not spread. Doctors still check it closely, because a few adrenal lumps turn out to be cancer.
Will I need surgery for an adrenal gland adenoma?
Not always. Small lumps that make no hormones are watched over time. Surgery is preferred for large lumps, lumps that may be cancer, and lumps that make too much hormone.
Can an adrenal gland adenoma cause high blood pressure?
Yes, if it makes too much aldosterone or cortisol. Treating the lump can help bring blood pressure back under control.
What is an adrenal incidentaloma?
An adrenal incidentaloma is an unsuspected tumor in one or both adrenal glands. It is usually found by chance during an imaging test, like a CT scan, done for another reason.
Sources
- NIH National Library of Medicine - Adrenal Adenoma
- MedlinePlus Genetics - Aldosterone-producing adenoma
- Endocrine Society - Adrenal Incidentaloma
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
