ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Adrenal Incidentaloma

What is adrenal incidentaloma?

30 December 2025

It is a benign or malignant condition characterized by the presence of tumor masses in one or both adrenal glands, located in the upper part of the kidneys. These glands are responsible for producing hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, and manage stress, among other important bodily functions.

Adrenal incidentaloma, also known as functional or hormonally active, can arise at any age, but the risk increases with age.

Its name comes from the accidental nature of its discovery, as it is usually diagnosed fortuitously while imaging studies are being performed for other conditions.

The main causes are due to an excessive production or an imbalance of the hormones aldosterone, adrenaline, and cortisol, generally due to the presence of:

  • Adenomas in the adrenal glands.
  • Adrenal gland cancer.
  • Pheochromocytoma.
  • Hyperaldosteronism.
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
  • Cyst inside or outside the adrenal glands.
  • Cushing’s Syndrome.

Signs and symptoms Adrenal Incidentaloma

The symptoms depend on the hormone that is working in excess, with the most common signs being:

  • Acne outbreaks.
  • Anxiety.
  • Fat accumulation in the abdomen and face.
  • Extreme fatigue.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Dehydration.
  • Excessive facial and body hair in women.
  • Bone fragility.
  • Headaches (migraines).
  • Irregular heartbeats.
  • Irregular menstruation.
  • Elevated blood glucose.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Overweight.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Sleep anomalies.

Diagnosis and treatment Adrenal Incidentaloma

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical exam and request blood and urine tests to evaluate your hormonal levels, as well as an ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, and a tissue biopsy. If deemed necessary, genetic tests will be performed.

Treatment may consist only of hormone therapy and follow-up appointments, or the surgical removal of the tumor in one or both adrenal glands.

Our Cancer Center, since its opening in 2009, offers chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments on par with the best medical centers in the world through a comprehensive care model for the oncological patient.

Related centers and departments Adrenal Incidentaloma

Cancer Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • endocrine.org
  • revistanefrologia.com
  • intramed.net
  • cancer.org
  • redalyc.org
  • elsevier.es
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medigraphic.com
  • Bolívar-Rodríguez MA, Cázarez-Aguilar MA, Magaña-Zavala PA, et al. Cirugía laparoscópica en incidentaloma suprarrenal para el cirujano general: serie de casos. Rev Mex Cir Endoscop. 2021;22(1):8-13.
  • Turcios TSE, Cabrera GM, Torres PR. Conducta ante un incidentaloma suprarrenal. Rev Cuba Endoc. 2014;25(3):243-252.
  • Rivera-Hernández A, Díaz-Zavala F. Incidentaloma adrenal. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura. Rev Endocrinol Nutr. 2013;21(4):182-186.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.