Adrenal tumors are removed with laparoscopic surgery.
An adrenal gland tumor is located on the adrenal glands. Hair loss associated with an adrenal tumor is often related to Cushing's Syndrome, a hormone disorder of the endocrine system.
Adrenal Gland
The adrenal glands are tiny glands located above each kidney. The central part of each gland produces epinephrine or adrenaline and norepineprine. The outside part of the gland is responsible for producing steroids for the body.
Adrenal Tumor
Healthy cells are designed to grow and replace old or damaged cells in the body in a highly regulated manner. When there is an error in this process, cell growth becomes overactive. This is how tumors occur. Tumors can be malignant or benign.
The most common benign adrenal gland tumor is called an adrenal adenoma. Most patients don't experience any symptoms at all. The most common malignant adrenal gland tumors result from cancer cells that have spread from other parts of the body via the bloodstream. Cancer occurring in the adrenal glands themselves is very rare.
Hair Loss
Hair loss with an adrenal tumor can be associated with Cushing's Syndrome. Cushing's Syndrome, otherwise known as hypercortisolism, is an endocrine disorder that occurs when an adrenal tumor tells the body to release excessive amounts of the hormone cortical.
Cushing's Syndrome
Cushing's Syndrome changes a patient's appearance drastically due to excessive cortisol in the body. The effects can be different on different people. General physical changes include a tendency to gain weight, particularly in the face, abdomen and back; thinning and weakness of the muscles in the upper legs and arms; and thinning of the skin with stretch marks and easy bruising. For women, common side effects are not only hair loss but facial hair growth, acne and lack of menstrual periods. Children will show obesity and poor growth in height. Changes in the body such as high blood pressure, fatigue, weakness, mood swings, depression, and increased thirst and urination are common symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome. Routine laboratory tests often find patients to have high white blood count, high blood sugar and low serum potassium. If left untreated, Cushing's Syndrome can weaken the body and increase susceptibility to illnesses such as pneumonia and TB.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Most tumors are detected on a CT or MRI scan. It is only necessary to treat an adrenal gland tumor if it is causing problems. Otherwise, the patient may need periodical scans to watch the tumor.
The treatment for an adrenal gland tumor is surgical removal. However, this is not possible for every patient. When an adrenal gland tumor is removed, it is most often through laparoscopic surgery. A laparoscope is a small fiber optic camera that can be inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The tumor can be resected inside the body without a large cut in the skin. The tumor is then removed through the same small incision.
Surgical removal of an adrenal gland tumor can resolve all the symptoms. However, some patients may still experience high blood pressure. Others may need to take steroids until the body is able to produce it again. Chemotherapy and radiation may be used in conjunction with the surgery, and further hair loss can occur as a result.
