The diagnosis of adrenal cancer typically involves a variety of tests and procedures:
- Medical History and Physical Exam: The initial steps include reviewing the patient's medical history and a physical examination to check for general signs of health and disease symptoms.
- Blood and Urine Tests: These tests check for abnormal hormone levels that can indicate adrenal gland problems. For example, high levels of cortisol could suggest Cushing syndrome, while high aldosterone levels might indicate Conn's syndrome.
- Imaging Tests: Imaging procedures such as CT scans, MRI, or PET scans are used to find out whether a suspicious mass is present in the adrenal glands and to check for the spread of cancer.
- Biopsy: In some cases, a sample of adrenal tissue may be removed using a fine needle during an imaging procedure to check for cancer cells.
- Functional Imaging Tests: These include tests like the MIBG scan, which uses radioactive chemicals to look for specific types of tumors.
Each step helps provide a comprehensive overview of the patient's condition and guides the treatment plan. Individuals experiencing adrenal cancer symptoms can obtain a prompt and accurate diagnosis from the GW Cancer Center Urological Oncology Program’s multidisciplinary team of medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, and advanced practice providers.
