Adrenal
Adrenal mass: is it making hormones, and does it look worrying?
What is the short answer?
Most are benign.
Two questions matter: is it making extra hormones, and does it look concerning on imaging?
What else should I know?
Blood or urine tests answer the first.
When should I make an appointment?
Get checked if any scan mentions an adrenal mass or nodule.
What happens at a visit?
Our two Gwinnett offices each include a surgery center: Snellville at 1557 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 30078 and Lawrenceville at 501 Crown Pointe Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Let us know which part of the county you call home, and we’ll take it from there.
How do our urologists approach this?
An adrenal finding is often discovered by accident on a scan done for another reason, and that can be unsettling. Our Gwinnett urologists answer the two questions that matter most. Is it making extra hormones, and does its appearance on imaging call for more attention? We order the right blood or urine tests, review the images with you, and explain whether it needs watching, more testing or treatment.
What happens at a visit?
Bring the scan report that mentioned the adrenal gland, plus any earlier imaging. We’ll ask about blood pressure, weight changes, sweating spells or a racing heart, and about your medicines. Lab work is often scheduled in the morning, and we’ll tell you if you need to prepare for it.
How should I prepare?
Bring the scan report, your blood pressure readings if you check them at home, and your medicine list. Note any spells of sweating or a racing heart.
When should I call?
Call us if your lab instructions are unclear, if you notice spells of a pounding heart, headache and sweating, or if you haven’t heard back about your results.
What do patients often ask?
These are the questions we hear most, each with a short answer.
Does every adrenal finding need surgery?
No. Most adrenal findings are benign and hormonally quiet, so many are simply watched with follow-up imaging.
Why do you test hormones if I feel fine?
Some adrenal growths make small amounts of hormone that affect blood pressure or blood sugar without obvious symptoms, so testing gives us a clearer picture.
What should I read next?
Educational content; your own care plan comes from a visit. Back to the reading room