About cancer

Adrenal gland tumours

Adrenal gland tumours start in the adrenal glands, which are above each kidney. There are different types including phaeochromocytoma and adrenal cortical cancer. Some tumours are not cancer.

Cancer can also start elsewhere such as the kidneys and spread to the adrenal glands. This is called secondary cancer. It is treated as kidney cancer, not adrenal gland cancer. Secondary cancer in the adrenal glands is more common than cancer that starts in the adrenal glands.

If your cancer started elsewhere and spread to the adrenal glands, look for information about where the cancer started (the  primary cancer). 

Search for the cancer type you want to find out about on our A-Z list of cancer types

Phaeochromocytoma

Phaeochromocytomas are rare tumours that start in the inner section of the adrenal gland. Most phaeochromocytomas are non cancerous (benign).

Adrenal cortical cancer

Adrenal cortical cancer (ACC) is very rare and also known as adrenocortical carcinoma. ACC starts in the outer layer of the adrenal glands, which are next to the kidneys.

Last reviewed: 21 Feb 2025

Next review due: 21 Feb 2028