Arthur Smith Institute for Urology, New Hyde Park, NY :: 516.734.8500

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Adrenal Cancer

Treatment

The first decision for you and your doctor is to determine whether the adrenal tumor needs to be treated at all. First, your doctor will determine whether the tumor is likely to be benign or malignant. If the tumor is benign, then the decision whether or not to treat is generally based on whether the tumor is causing symptoms. The symptoms may be the result of overproduction of adrenal hormones or the result of the large size of the tumor (causing pain or abdominal fullness). If no treatment is needed, then the tumors can be followed with periodic imaging to make sure that it is not enlarging in size.

Although symptomatic benign adrenal tumors can be treated with medicines, the majority of symptomatic benign tumors and malignant tumors are treated with surgery. Fortunately, if one of your adrenal glands is removed, the other adrenal gland can compensate and maintain normal adrenal function.

For most lesions requiring surgery, the operation can be performed with laparoscopic surgery. This type of surgery involves making 3 to 5 small incisions (approximately 1 cm each) in the abdomen; and using specialized instruments through those incisions, your doctor can perform the operation. The primary advantage to you is that the recovery time is much shorter than traditional open surgery. Occasionally, if your tumor is very large and/or involving other organs in the abdomen, then your doctor may elect to perform the operation through a larger incision (open surgery). Your doctor will make that decision if he/she thinks it is safer than the laparoscopic surgical approach.