Is every adrenal tumor cancerous?

No. Most adrenal tumours are benign. Only a small proportion are malignant and diagnosed as adrenal cancer.

What are the early symptoms of adrenal cancer?

Symptoms may include abdominal pain, high blood pressure, unexplained weight loss, muscle weakness, hormonal changes, or an abdominal lump. Some people have no symptoms initially.

How is adrenal cancer treated?

Treatment often involves surgery to remove the affected adrenal gland, followed by medications, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or ongoing monitoring depending on the stage of the disease.

Is pre-existing adrenal cancer covered by health insurance?

No. If adrenal cancer has been diagnosed before purchasing a health insurance policy, coverage is generally not available because it is treated as a pre-existing disease with significant underwriting risk.

Adrenal Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Health Insurance Guide

Q: What is adrenal cancer?

Adrenal cancer is a rare malignant tumour that develops in the adrenal glands, which produce hormones responsible for regulating many essential body functions.

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Adrenal Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Health Insurance Considerations

Understand adrenal cancer, its early warning signs, available treatment options, and what a pre-existing diagnosis may mean when buying health insurance.

Written by

OneAssure Team

Reviewed by

Aman Shetty

Senior Insurance Advisor | BQP code: 33905

Read time : 5 minutes

Published on : July 06, 2026

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What Is Adrenal Cancer?

Adrenal cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the adrenal glands, two small glands located above the kidneys. These glands produce hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and sex hormones that help regulate metabolism, blood pressure, stress response, and other essential body functions.Most adrenal tumors are benign (non-cancerous). However, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant form of adrenal cancer that can grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body if not diagnosed and treated early.

What Causes Adrenal Cancer?

The exact cause of adrenal cancer is not fully understood. However, certain inherited genetic conditions may increase the risk, including:

Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) type 1
Lynch syndrome
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

Most cases occur without a clear family history. Because adrenal cancer is uncommon, routine screening is not recommended for the general population unless there is a known genetic risk.

Symptoms Can Vary from Person to Person

Some adrenal cancers produce excess hormones, while others do not. Symptoms depend on the tumor's size and whether it affects hormone production.Common symptoms include:

Persistent abdominal or flank pain
A lump or fullness in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
High blood pressure
Muscle weakness
Excessive hair growth or hormonal changes
Irregular menstrual cycles in women
Early puberty in children in rare cases

Some adrenal tumors are discovered incidentally during scans performed for unrelated medical conditions.

How Is Adrenal Cancer Diagnosed?

Doctors use a combination of hormone testing and imaging studies to diagnose adrenal cancer and determine whether it has spread.Investigations may include:

Blood and urine hormone tests
CT scan or MRI of the abdomen
PET scan in selected cases
Biopsy only when clinically appropriate
Staging investigations to assess cancer spread

Early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment, particularly when the tumor can be completely removed.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the stage of cancer, tumor size, hormone production, and overall health.Management may include:

Surgical removal of the adrenal gland (adrenalectomy)
Targeted medications such as mitotane for selected patients
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy in specific situations
Regular imaging and hormone monitoring after treatment

Care is usually provided by a multidisciplinary team that may include endocrinologists, oncologists, and endocrine surgeons.

Health Insurance and Pre-Existing Adrenal Cancer

Adrenal cancer is a serious medical condition that often requires surgery, cancer-directed treatment, and long-term follow-up. When adrenal cancer has already been diagnosed before purchasing a health insurance policy, it is considered a pre-existing disease (PED).Although cancer insurance, critical illness plans, and standard health insurance may provide benefits for eligible cancer diagnoses that occur after policy issuance, health insurance coverage is generally not available for individuals with pre-existing adrenal cancer. The diagnosis of a confirmed malignant tumor represents a significant underwriting risk, which typically affects policy eligibility.Understanding these limitations before purchasing health insurance helps individuals make informed financial and healthcare decisions.