Adrenal glands are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones that direct the activity of every organ and tissue in the body. Adrenal cancer is very rare but when it does occur, it can be aggressive. An adrenal cortical carcinoma is a cancerous tumor that can produce hormones that cause unexpected changes in the body or press on organs, causing more symptoms.
Bronchial neuroendocrine tumors are a rare type of cancer that grows in the lungs. They are also called lung carcinoid tumors. These tumors develop from neuroendocrine cells, a type of cell that makes hormones to support certain bodily functions. Most neuroendocrine tumors are found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but about 25% grow in the lungs.
Carcinoid syndrome is a group of symptoms linked to carcinoid tumors. Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine tumors that can grow in the gastrointestinal (GI) system and lungs. Only about 10% of people who have carcinoid tumors end up having carcinoid syndrome. It can occur when a carcinoid tumor has spread to the liver and releases too many hormones in the body. These hormones cause the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.
Carcinoid tumors grow slowly and usually appear in the gastrointestinal tract or lung. Gastrointestinal symptoms include skin flushing and diarrhea, and symptoms that appear if the tumor is in the lung include difficulty breathing. Carcinoid tumors typically begin in the cells that produce hormones of various organs in the gastrointestinal tract like stomach or intestines, though they can develop in the pancreas or the testicles in men and the ovaries in women.
Gastrointestinal (GI) neuroendocrine tumors are a rare type of cancer that grows in the lining of the GI tract. They are also called GI carcinoid tumors. These tumors develop from neuroendocrine cells, a type of cell that makes hormones that support certain bodily functions. Neuroendocrine cells are most common in the GI tract, where they make hormones that help control digestion.
Parathyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops in one of your four parathyroid glands. These glands are in the base of your neck, on the thyroid gland. They make a type of hormone called parathyroid hormone, which controls the calcium in your body.
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal grouping of cells on the pituitary gland, a small but important gland at the base of the brain. Most pituitary tumors are non-cancerous (benign), and are most often seen in older adults. Some pituitary tumors can affect hormones in the body, causing different conditions and symptoms associated with an abundance or not enough of the hormones that regulate the body's systems. Tumor pressure can cause headaches, vision loss, and weight loss/gain.