Small glands that sit above each kidney, the adrenals make certain hormones for the body, and yet, a lot of people with adrenal tumors have no symptoms and are thus unaware that they have a tumor. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones that help the body respond to. Free Google Slides theme and PowerPoint template. They can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, strength, and alertness. Adrenal tumors are abnormal growths on the adrenal glands. For example, benign pituitary gland tumors can make high levels of another hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Catecholamines (released by the medulla)Ĭatecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) influence how your body responds to stress or fear. Cushing syndrome may be caused by an adrenal cancer or an adrenal adenoma that makes high levels of cortisol and/or related hormones, but it can also have other causes.Your DHEA level usually goes down after you turn 30. Your body uses DHEA to make male sex hormones (androgens) and female sex hormones (estrogens). If you have an adrenal tumor, it may affect the production of these hormones:Ĭortisol affects your metabolism and helps you recover from physical stress and infection.Īldosterone regulates your sodium and potassium levels, which affect blood pressure and the balance of fluids and electrolytes (water and salt) in your body. Your adrenal glands produce four common hormones. The medulla makes hormones that affect how your body responds to stress. A tumor can grow large without causing any symptoms at all.

The cortex releases hormones that affect your metabolism (the way your body converts what you eat and drink into energy), blood pressure, and physical characteristics, like body shape and where and how much hair grows on your body. They make hormones that help the body work properly and are vital to life. These two glands, located above the kidneys, are part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that regulate different bodily functions.Įach adrenal gland has a cortex (an outer layer) and a medulla (an inner region). Adrenal gland tumours There are 2 adrenal glands, one above each kidney. Adrenal tumors form in the adrenal glands.

Kidney adrenal gland cancer