The adrenal gland is the body's production center for hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol and epinephrine. Along with the testes and ovaries, adrenal glands manufacture sex hormones.
The adrenal gland has been described as two separate glands. The adrenal cortex, or outer layer, produces hormones called corticoids. The adrenal medulla, which lies in the center of the gland, produces catecholamines.
Functioning tumors can produce an excess of hormone, disrupting the body's normal homeostasis.
Increased Blood Sodium
Benign tumors of the adrenal gland are known as adenomas. Adenomas can be functioning, meaning they produce hormone, or non-functional, meaning they don't. Malignant adrenal tumors can also fall into either category, though OncoLink states that they are most often functioning.
Aldosterone is a hormone produced in the adrenal cortex that regulates the levels of sodium in the blood. An increased aldosterone level results in an increase in blood sodium. This in turn causes elevated blood pressure, weakness, cramps and thirstiness.
Unusual Fat Deposits
Functioning adrenal tumors that produce cortisol can result in a disorder called Cushing's syndrome. Cortisol is involved in converting amino acids and fats into glucose. An excess of this hormone sometimes results in the buildup of fat deposits in the neck and between the shoulders, a condition referred to as "buffalo hump." The faces of those with Cushing's syndrome appear round and bloated, giving them an appearance doctor's describe as moon face, according to "The New York Times."
Anxiety
The hormones produced by the adrenal medulla, epinephrine and norepinephrine, are involved in mediating the body's responses to stress. A tumor of the medulla called pheochromocytoma is known to cause an excess of these hormones. MayoClinic.com notes that pheochromocytoma symptoms include feelings of anxiety and extreme fright, accompanied by extreme blood pressure fluctuations.
Abnormal Sexual Development
The adrenal cortex produces sexual hormones, and OncoLink states that adrenal tumors can result in symptoms reflecting an abnormal increase in these hormones. Excessive production of testosterone can occur in both men and women, leading to masculinizing effects such as deepened voice, male pattern baldness, growth of facial hair and increased clitoral size. Excess amounts of estrogen can also result from an adrenal tumor, and in males this can manifest as sexual impotence and gynecomastic or enlarged breasts.
