Adrenal Cancer Diagnosis

Adrenal cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the adrenal cortex or medulla, often presenting with hormone secretion abnormalities or abdominal masses. Due to its hidden course and lack of obvious early symptoms, it is often misdiagnosed or missed. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, the tumor may rapidly spread to the liver, lungs, or lymphatic system, leading to a sharp drop in survival rate. Routine physical examinations combined with imaging and biochemical marker tests help with early recognition and intervention.

Diagnostic Basis

1. Hormonal Function Tests
Adrenal cancer is often accompanied by abnormal hormone secretion, especially excess cortisol, aldosterone, androgens, or adrenaline. Blood and urine tests for these hormone levels can determine whether a functional tumor exists. If clinical manifestations such as Cushing’s syndrome or primary aldosteronism are present, adrenal lesions should be considered.

2. Imaging Examinations
CT or MRI are important tools to determine the nature of adrenal masses. Enhanced CT scans can define the mass boundaries, density, and vascular supply characteristics, while MRI provides higher resolution of soft tissues, suitable for evaluating local invasion and distant metastasis. Masses larger than 4 cm, with irregular margins or invasive features on imaging, should raise strong suspicion of malignancy.

3. Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT)
PET-CT is advantageous in evaluating tumor metabolic activity and detecting micrometastases. It plays an important role in preoperative staging and recurrence monitoring, especially for non-functional tumors and patients with high recurrence tendency, providing whole-body assessment.

4. Histopathological Examination
The gold standard for confirming adrenal cancer remains histopathological analysis. Tissue obtained via surgical resection or needle biopsy is examined under a microscope for cell morphology and immunohistochemical staining. Features such as high mitotic rate, significant atypia, and necrotic areas strongly indicate malignancy.

5. Tumor Marker and Genetic Testing
Some adrenal cancer patients may show changes in specific serum markers such as AFP and NSE. With the development of molecular medicine, certain genetic abnormalities (such as TP53 mutations and IGF2 overexpression) are now used to help evaluate prognosis and guide targeted therapy. Genetic testing in high-risk patients supports personalized treatment planning.

6. Immune Cell Assessment and Auxiliary Diagnostic Techniques
In selected suspicious cases, newer methods such as circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection and immune cell quantification can assess immune status. United Life International Medical Center integrates these diagnostic methods with imaging and genetic testing to provide more accurate assessment for complex cases, supporting the formulation of immune reconstruction cell therapy plans.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis of adrenal cancer is highly challenging, but combined multimodal testing can effectively improve recognition rates. Experts at United Life International Medical Center remind high-risk groups to pay attention to physical examinations and abnormal endocrine function, adhering to the principle of "early detection, early evaluation, early intervention" to achieve better treatment results and improved survival.