Therapy

The type of surgical procedure your doctor recommends will depend on factors such as the size and characteristics of the tumor, as well as your overall health condition.

Possible options include:

• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
  In this procedure, a long, flexible probe with a tiny camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a small incision in the back or flank. The adrenal tumor is then removed through additional small incisions. This minimally invasive approach usually allows for a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.
• Posterior approach
  In this method, the tumor is accessed through an incision in the back, just above the kidney.
• Anterior (transabdominal) approach
  This is the traditional surgical approach to the adrenal glands. The surgeon removes the tumor through an incision in the abdomen.
• Thoracoabdominal approach
  This method is used for very large adrenal tumors. It involves a large incision through both the chest and abdominal wall.

Large tumors

For tumors that are too large to be safely removed through surgery, specialists may recommend the following treatment options:

• Cryoablation
  This treatment method aims to destroy tumor cells using extreme cold delivered through a special probe inserted into the tumor. The formation of ice crystals causes the cancer cells to rupture and die. Whether cryoablation is feasible depends on the size of the tumor and the nature of the surrounding tissue.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
  In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a special needle into the tumor to destroy it using intense heat. As with cryoablation, the applicability of RFA depends on the size of the tumor and the characteristics of the surrounding tissue.

Delay of recurrence

To delay the recurrence of adrenal cancer, additional treatment measures are usually necessary. These may include:

• Medication therapy
  Medications are used to slow tumor growth or reduce tumor size. They are administered as follow-up treatment when adrenal cancer could not be completely removed by surgery. In addition, they may be used to help prevent the return of very aggressive tumors after successful surgical removal.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy is used to slow the progression of cancer, particularly when it has spread to other organs.
• Radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications to help manage the unpleasant side effects of excessive hormone production, which often occurs as a consequence of adrenal cancer.