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How Can A Benign Secreting Adrenal Gland Tumor Be Treated?

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Posted on Tue, 7 Feb 2017
Question: I had a benign secreting adrenal gland tumor. The symptoms were didn't sleep at all for 5 days, was anxious & nervous. The test to determine what kind of tumor was take urine sample. Given medication that would increase the amount of adrenal secreted showing whether or not I had a secreting adrenal gland tumor. Urine was collected for several days & then another urine test. The test showed a huge increase in adrenal. I was 48 at the time. The adrenal gland was removed. I had a port in my neck to help prevent from having a stroke. I'm a seeing doctor about possible breast cancer & she would like the name of the tumor. Do you know the name of the tumor? Also the tumor was benign.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
All i can deduct for now is :The name of the tumor is adrenal adenoma.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.

In my opinion you had a Adrenal adenoma.

Adenomas of the adrenal gland are non-cancerous (benign) tumors on the adrenal gland. Most do not cause any signs or symptoms and rarely require treatment.
However, some may become "active" or "functioning" which means they produce hormones, often in excess of what the adrenal glands typically produce. High levels of these hormones can lead to complications, including primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome , Pheochromocytoma and other medical conditions. Functioning adrenal adenomas may be treated with surgery and/or medications.

Depending on the type of hormone released, adrenal tumors can cause a variety of conditions, including Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, Pheochromocytoma or much less commonly, virilization.

From your medical history(Anxiety and nervousness)is difficult to deduct the right diagnose because these symptoms can be due Pheochromocitoma and Cushing's syndrome.(Pheo more probable)

So,i need more details about the time when you was diagnosed with the adrenal gland tumor, if you had:
-Headaches (severe)
-Excess sweating (generalized)
-Racing heart (tachycardia and palpitations)
-Nervous shaking (tremors)
-weight gain.
-obesity.
-fatty deposits, especially in the midsection, the face (causing a round, moon-shaped face) and between the shoulders and the upper back.
-purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs.

It is also important for me to know if you had a difficult-to-control hypertension or moderate hypertension.

Let me know as much details as possible about your past situation ,so i can reach the right diagnose between the two conditions that i suspect.(Pheo or Cushing syndrome)

Best regards.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (47 hours later)

I didn't have any of the symptoms above. The only symptoms I had was very anxious & nervous, sleeping less & less until didn't sleep at all for 5 days & losing weight without trying. I went to see a psychiatrist who prescribed medication. After seeing him for 2-3 times he said there was no reason for me to depressed.
He suggested I see an endocrinologist to determine if I had a secreting tumor on my adrenal gland, which I can't remember the name. The endocrinologist took blood & urine. She then gave medication that would determine if I had a secreting tumor. Urine was taken for several days & then tested. The test showed a huge increase in adrenal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Secreting adrenal adenoma, follow-up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

It is strange that you didn't have any of the symptoms mentioned earlier in the list because, if it was a secreting adrenal tumor, the hormone produced by the adrenal mass will produce symptoms i.e. most of them are in the list.

Anyway, if you had weight loss, this means that Cushing's syndrome is excluded from the potential diagnose that i'm trying to find.

I have another question for you : Are you sure that you didn't have high blood pressure ?
Have you checked your blood pressure at the time when you was diagnosed with the adrenal tumor ? , please let me know about this....

This answer is important because secreting adrenal tumors including Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, Pheochromocytoma cause high blood pressure.

I suspected that your diagnose was Pheochromocytoma because it can explain your anxiousness, nervousness, insomnia. But in this case you should have high blood pressure, headache, racing heart-beats and excessive sweating.

Please let me know about these.

Take care
Kind regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (3 hours later)

Yes i did have high blood pressure, but no headache. The endocrinologist did give me medicine for high blood pressure & I had to keep a close watch on my blood pressure. I do remember racing heart-beats when I was anxious.

Thank you for all the information you have given me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Pheo is probable but i need more information.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX

I want to resume all what we discussed untill now:
The probable diagnoses are Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism and Pheochromocytoma.These are adrenal mass that can cause high blood pressure.

1.Cushing syndrome is excluded because you had weight loss(The most common symptoms of this condition are:weight gain and obesity.

2.The second option was Primary aldosteronism.
The main sign of primary aldosteronism is Moderate to severe high blood pressure along with a low potassium level (hypokalemia) and the symptoms related to hypocalemia are Weakness,Cardiac arrhythmias,Muscle cramps
Excess thirst or urination.You didn't have any of these symptoms ,so even this diagnose improbable.

3.The last option is pheochromocytoma.
Anxiousness, nervousness, insomnia and racing heart rate can be attributed to this condition.But in this case you should have high blood pressure(even hypertensive crisis) that may be resistant to conventional medications and episodic/ sudden onset of severe headaches.

You didn't have headaches but i need to know more about your hypertension?
-It was moderate or severe?
-Did you ever have hypertensive chrisis?
-How many drugs did you need to stabilize your hypertension?(it was easy or difficult to normalize your blood pressure before surgery???

Looking forward to your reply.
Regards.
Dr.Xhardo


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (3 days later)

The hypertension was moderate. The doctor said she was going to put me on old fashion medicine. I took 2, but could not tell you what they were. I was admitted to the hospital the day before in order to stabilize my blood pressure. I really don't know whether it was easy or difficult, but there was no indication it was difficult.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I'm reconsidering the XXXXXXX syndrome.

Detailed Answer: XXXXXXX
If you did not have severe hypertension,maybe the diagnose of Pheochromocytoma is not the right diagnose for you.

So,in this circustances i'm reconsidering the Primary hyperaldosteronism (also called XXXXXXX syndrome.)This is a condition caused by a adrenal tumor and the main characteristice of this condition is moderate hypertension.

Anyway if you remember the name af any test or any hormone that was done to you (at that time ),let me know because it will help a lot to deduct the definitive diagnose.

So if i take in consideration all we have discussed untill now,i can conclude that your diagnose wa:Adrenal sectreting Adenona or more specifically XXXXXXX syndrone.

Hope this is helpful.
If you have other health problems to discuss,feel free anf ask.
You can ask me at HealthCareMagic at my private link: bit.do/hcm-Dr-Xhardo.
I will be happy to help.
Wish you all the best.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Elona

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 941 Questions

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How Can A Benign Secreting Adrenal Gland Tumor Be Treated?

Brief Answer: All i can deduct for now is :The name of the tumor is adrenal adenoma. Detailed Answer: Hello I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. In my opinion you had a Adrenal adenoma. Adenomas of the adrenal gland are non-cancerous (benign) tumors on the adrenal gland. Most do not cause any signs or symptoms and rarely require treatment. However, some may become "active" or "functioning" which means they produce hormones, often in excess of what the adrenal glands typically produce. High levels of these hormones can lead to complications, including primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome , Pheochromocytoma and other medical conditions. Functioning adrenal adenomas may be treated with surgery and/or medications. Depending on the type of hormone released, adrenal tumors can cause a variety of conditions, including Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, Pheochromocytoma or much less commonly, virilization. From your medical history(Anxiety and nervousness)is difficult to deduct the right diagnose because these symptoms can be due Pheochromocitoma and Cushing's syndrome.(Pheo more probable) So,i need more details about the time when you was diagnosed with the adrenal gland tumor, if you had: -Headaches (severe) -Excess sweating (generalized) -Racing heart (tachycardia and palpitations) -Nervous shaking (tremors) -weight gain. -obesity. -fatty deposits, especially in the midsection, the face (causing a round, moon-shaped face) and between the shoulders and the upper back. -purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs. It is also important for me to know if you had a difficult-to-control hypertension or moderate hypertension. Let me know as much details as possible about your past situation ,so i can reach the right diagnose between the two conditions that i suspect.(Pheo or Cushing syndrome) Best regards.