Radiation Therapy for Adrenal Cancer
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays (or particles) to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is generally not used as the main initial treatment for adrenal cancer. Rather, it is usually offered to patients as:
- Adjuvant therapy: Radiation may be used after surgery to help keep the tumor from coming back.
- Local control of metastasis: If the cancer has spread to other organs, such as the brain, lung, liver, or bone, radiation therapy to those areas may improve symptoms like pain.
Types of radiation therapy
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) focuses radiation on the cancer from a machine outside the body. It is like getting an x-ray and is not painful. Treatments are often given once or twice a day, 5 days a week for several weeks. The actual treatment time only lasts a few minutes, although the setup time - getting you into place for treatment - usually takes longer to make sure that the radiation is aimed accurately at the cancer. Before treatment starts, the radiation team will take measurements to find the correct angles for aiming the radiation beams and the proper dose of radiation. This planning session, called simulation, usually includes getting imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans.
Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) uses small pellets of radioactive material placed next to or directly into the cancer. This type of radiation is not often used to treat adrenal cortical cancer.
Radiofrequency ablation uses high-energy radio waves to heat and destroy the tumor cells. A thin, needle-like probe is put through the skin and moved until the tip is in the tumor. Placement of the probe is guided by CT scans. This is usually done as an outpatient procedure, using local anesthesia (numbing medicine) where the probe is inserted. You may be given medicine to help you relax. Some people with adrenal cancer might not be healthy enough for surgery. Others may have a tumor that cannot be surgically removed, either due to size or where it is. For these patients, radiofrequency ablation may be an option.
Possible radiation side effects
Common side effects of radiation therapy include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea (if an area of the abdomen is treated)
- Skin changes in the area being treated, which can range from redness to blistering and peeling
- Hair loss in the area being treated
- Fatigue
- Low blood counts
More information about radiation therapy
To learn more about how radiation is used to treat cancer, see Radiation Therapy.
To learn about some of the side effects listed here and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Atallah S, Al-Assaf H, Xu Y, El-Sayed S. Adrenocortical carcinoma: patterns of care and role of adjuvant radiation therapy-a population-based study and review of the literature. Curr Oncol. 2017 Aug;24(4):e316-e322.
Else T, Kim AC, Sabolch A, Raymond VM, Kandathil A, Caoili EM, Jolly S, Miller BS, Giordano TJ, Hammer GD. Adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Rev. 2014 Apr;35(2):282-326.
Fassnacht M, Hahner S, Polat B, et al. Efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy of the tumor bed on local recurrence of adrenocortical carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91:4501-4504.
Lirov R, Tobias E, Lerario AM, Hammer GD. Adrenal tumors In: DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2015: Chapter 84.
National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query (PDQ). Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment. 08/25/2022. Accessed at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/adrenocortical/hp/adrenocortical-treatment-pdq on July 15, 2024.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines?), Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors, Version 2.2024--August 1, 2024. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/neuroendocrine.pdf on July 17, 2024.
Schneider DF, Mazeh H, Lubner SJ, Jaume JC, Chen H. Cancer of the endocrine system In: Neiderhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier: 2014: 1112-1142.
Last Revised: October 1, 2024
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.