What Are the Symptoms of a Mass on the Adrenal Gland?
Symptoms of an adrenal gland tumor, which forms as a mass when the growth of normal cells is out of control, include nervousness, heart palpitations, low potassium levels and high blood pressure, states the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Abdominal pain, too much perspiration, headache and anxiety attacks are also possible symptoms.
Some patients with an adrenal gland tumor experience abdominal stretch marks, weakness or weight changes, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Patients with pheochromocytoma tend to experience an increase in the production of the adrenal gland hormones responsible for controlling blood pressure and stress response, leading to sudden high blood pressure and higher risks of stroke, heart attack, hemorrhage or unexpected death.
Some tumors are malignant and thus capable of affecting other areas of the body, while other tumors are benign and do not spread to other body parts, explains the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Tumors either grow in an adrenal gland or start in another organ and eventually affect the adrenal glands.
An adrenal gland tumor causes varying symptoms depending on whether it is functioning, which means it produces excessive hormones, or nonfunctioning, in which the tumor does not create hormones, notes the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Symptoms and corresponding treatment also depend on factors such as the type of hormones produced, start of the tumor growth in the adrenal gland and extension of the tumor to other organs.
