If adrenal gland cancer spreads

Last medical review:

Cancer cells can spread from the adrenal gland to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care. If primary adrenal gland cancer (also called adrenal gland cancer) spreads, it can spread to:

  • nearby lymph nodes
  • the other adrenal gland
  • kidneys
  • diaphragm
  • large blood vessels
  • pancreas
  • spleen
  • peritoneum
  • retroperitoneum
  • bones
  • liver
  • lungs

Metastases to the adrenal gland

Other types of cancer commonly spread (metastasize) to the adrenal gland. The spread of other cancers to the adrenal gland (called secondary adrenal gland cancer) is more common than primary adrenal gland cancer. Cancers that may spread to the adrenal gland include:

  • lung cancer
  • breast cancer
  • kidney cancer
  • colorectal cancer
  • melanoma skin cancer
  • lymphoma

Expert review and references

  • Shereen Ezzat, MD, FRCPC, FACP
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Cancer.net: Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma. 2022.
  • Jimenez C, Libutti SK, Landry CS, et al. Adrenal – neuroendocrine tumors. Amin, MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 77:927–935.
  • Marcondes Lerario A, Mohan DR, Jolly S, Else T, Hammer GD. Adrenal tumours. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg S. eds. DeVita Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2023: Kindle version, chapter 56, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B0BG3DPT4Q&language=en-CA.
  • PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • O'Leary C, Birkhimer D. Endocrine malignancies. Yarbro CH, Wujcik D, Gobel B (eds.). Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Burlington, MA: Jone & Bartlett Learning; 2018: Kindle version, chapter 52, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B01M6ZZEWT&ref_=kwl_kr_iv_rec_1.
  • Phan AT, Grogan RH, Rohren E, Perrier ND. Adrenal cortical carcinoma. Amin, MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 76:919–926.
  • Stewart AA, Story ES. Adrenal neoplasms. Raghavan D, Ahluwalia MS, Blanke CD, et al, eds.. Textbook of Uncommon Cancer. 5th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell; 2017: Kindle version, 47, https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B06XKD44V3&_encoding=UTF8&ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_pbcb_rnvc00.

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