The adrenal glands
What are they?
In 1522 the adrenal glands were first described by Bartholomaeus Eustachius as "glandulae renis incumbentes" (glands lying on the kidney) but for many centuries their role remained obscured.
As endocrine glands, they secrete chemicals (hormones) that are carried by blood cross the body and affect the function of different other organs.
Why do we need them ?
The adrenals produce four types of hormones.
cortisol - important for maintaining blood pressure and sugar levels
aldosterone - involved in controlling blood pressure (many tablets used to treat high blood pressure interact with its effects)
sex-hormones - necessary during puberty
adrenaline - important for reacting in ‘life and death’ situations
What can go wrong?
Up to 5 in every 100 patients having a CT scan can be found to have small adrenal tumour (incidentaloma).
Adrenal glands can develop tumours that can produce excessive amounts of hormones that can lead to specific symptoms and lead to serious long-term complications:
phaeochromocytomas= excess adrenaline
Cushing’s syndrome= excess cortisol
Conn’s syndrome=excess aldosterone
Adrenal cancer (ACC, adrenocortical cancer) - a very rare and very aggressive tumour.
Metastases from other cancers (i.e. seeding of cancerous cells within the adrenal gland)