An adrenal adenoma is a growth in the adrenal glands, which are located on the top portion of the kidneys. The causes of an adrenal adenoma have been narrowed down to three specific medical conditions that make them form. They are the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, Carney’s Complex, and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I. These tumors cause many symptoms, and there are numerous treatments for them.
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome has been found to be a common cause of adrenal adenoma because it is a medical condition that causes the growth of tumors, as well as enlarged body parts. This affliction is caused by irregularities within the DNA, specifically in the chromosome 11. Tumors usually appear during the early stages of life and they can eventually form into various tumors and cancerous cells, such as kidney tumors and adrenal adenomas.
Carney’s Complex is another medical condition that has been shown to cause an adrenal adenoma to form. This condition doesn't always cause the formation of adenomas in the adrenal glands. It is a condition that is passed down through the genes, specifically the gene known as PPKAR1A, and it causes numerous tumors to form. They are usually found on the skin, but in specific cases they will spread into the adrenal glands and eventually form into an adrenal adenoma. Some common side effects with this condition is the change in hormone levels within the body, which leads to decreases in the main sex gene, along with increases in the non-dominant one.
The final medical condition that has been linked to the formation of adrenal adenoma tumors is the Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I which is passed down through the genes from one, or both, of the parents. Tumors will form throughout the entire endocrine system when this problem is present, including into the adrenal glands. This condition can cause hormone changes within men due to over activity within the adrenal glands.
In all three of these instances, an adrenal adenoma can form along the top edges of the kidneys. Surgery will be required in order to remove the cancerous tumors, and hormone replacement therapies will have to be included during the recovery stages. After the adenomas have been removed, and recovery is complete, the patient will have to be diligently monitored through regular check-ups with their physician.