Cancer in the adrenal gland is rare.

The most common cancer is a metastasis from another cancer that spread to the adrenal gland. Much less common is Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC), a rare, usually aggressive cancer that is diagnosed in 1-2% of all adrenal masses. It arises from the cortex, or outer layer of the gland and most commonly occurs in the very young (< 10 years of age) or older (>50/60 years of age) individuals.

Signs of Adrenal Cancer

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Moon facies (round facial shape)
Buffalo hump (mound of fat at the back of the neck)
Stretch marks
Abnormal hair growth

Adrenal Cancer Symptoms

Easy bruising
Fatigue
Weight gain (particularly around the mid-section)
Leg swelling
Mood swings
Irregular periods
Muscle weakness

The majority of ACCs are sporadic and without risk factors. There are a few rare genetic syndromes that are associated with ACC, including Li-Fraumeni, Lynch, and Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndromes.
The most common cancers that metastasize to the adrenal gland are lung, breast, kidney, gastrointestinal, melanoma, and lymphoma.

The diagnostic workup of adrenal cancer consists of blood tests, sometimes urine tests, and imaging which determine if the adrenal mass is producing hormones and the extent of the tumor spread.
Definitive diagnosis is only made on final pathology. However, certain characteristics of the tumor on imaging studies make it highly suspicious for ACC.

If surgically resectable: open adrenalectomy and en-bloc removal of the tumor, the surrounding tissues, any invading structures and the regional lymph nodes.
Adjuvant therapy with mitotane and possibly chemotherapy is usually recommended.
Unresectable tumors: mitotane, chemotherapy, and clinical trials with newer biologic agents

Can my cancer come back?

Adult adrenal cortical cancer is an aggressive tumor that is not usually found until it has advanced to a later stage and therefore has a poor prognosis.
Prognosis for smaller tumors that are confined to the adrenal gland and removed early can have a five year survival of up to 65%.
Since ACC is an aggressive tumor, it can definitely come back either locally (in the same location) or in a distant location as metastatic disease.

Are there risk factors for recurrence?

How is my cancer monitored after surgery?