If adrenal gland cancer spreads
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 the following:
- regional lymph nodes
- the other adrenal gland
- kidney
- diaphragm
- pancreas
- spleen
- stomach
- colon
- diaphragm
- large blood vessels
- peritoneum (the membrane that lines the walls of the abdomen and pelvis and covers and supports most of the abdominal organs)
- retroperitoneum (area behind the peritoneum toward the back of the abdomen)
- bone
- liver
- lung
- brain – this is rare
- skin – this is rare
Metastases to the adrenal gland
The adrenal gland is a common site for metastases. Spread of other cancers to the adrenal gland (secondary adrenal gland cancer) is more common than primary adrenal gland cancer. Cancers that may spread to the adrenal gland include:
- lung
- breast
- colon
- rectum
- malignant melanoma
- lymphoma