Adrenal cancer

Overview

Adrenal cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the small, triangular glands located on top of your kidneys (adrenal glands). Adrenal glands produce hormones that give instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in your body.

Adrenal cancer is often aggressive. When found early, adrenal cancer can be cured. But if the cancer has spread to areas beyond the adrenal gland, cure becomes less likely. Treatment can be used to delay progression or recurrence.

Noncancerous (benign) adrenal tumors, such as adenomas or pheochromocytoma, also can develop in the adrenal glands.

Read more about pheochromocytoma.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for adrenal cancer

• Diagnostic expertise. Adrenal cancer can be challenging to diagnose because the features of benign and cancerous adrenal tumors can be similar. Mayo Clinic has pathologists with experience analyzing adrenal tumors, to help determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
• Advanced treatments. Mayo surgeons have experience in the various procedures used to remove adrenal cancer, including large tumors.
• Comprehensive cancer center. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center meets strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, recognizing scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., are ranked high performing for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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