Staging

Staging is a way of describing a tumor, such as where it is located, if or where it has spread, and if it is affecting the functions of other organs in the body. Doctors use diagnostic tests to determine the tumor’s stage, so staging may not be complete until all of the tests, or even the surgical removal of the tumor or adrenal gland, are finished. Knowing the stage helps the doctor to decide what kind of treatment is best and can help predict a patient’s prognosis (chance of recovery). There are different stage descriptions for different types of cancer.

There is no standard staging system for an adrenal gland tumor. A tumor that started in the adrenal gland and has spread to other areas of the body is usually a more aggressive type of tumor. A recurrent adrenal tumor is a tumor that comes back after treatment.