Background

3. Is this tumor a genetic problem?

Most adrenal tumors are not genetic or inherited problems. However, pheochromocytomaPheochromocytoma - a disease where too much adrenaline is being made by an adrenal tumor (adrenaline producing tumors), paragangliomaParaganglioma - a disease where too much adrenaline is being made by a tumor outside the adrenal glands (adrenalineAdrenaline - the hormone that helps control the "fight or flight" response and puts the body on "high alert" (also known as epinephrine) producing tumors outside of the adrenal glands), and some adrenocortical cancers may occur as part of a genetic syndrome. If you have one of these tumors, your physician should be able to direct you to a genetic counselor who will review your family history. When appropriate, he or she can arrange for the appropriate blood tests to determine whether you have a genetic mutation that is associated with these tumors.