The prognosis for a full recovery is quite good; nearly ninety-seven percent of patients who will undergo surgery will show no adverse effects in the long-term. However, it is important to note the different outlooks for those who are diagnosed with a benign adrenal adenoma as opposed to those who are instead found to have a malignancy. Although this second incident is considered to be quite rare, it is still worthwhile to look at the prognosis in both cases. As with any medical treatment, the rates of success will directly involve early detection, the size of the growth and perhaps most importantly, the age and overall health of the patient. So let us look at both benign and malignant prognoses.
In the vast majority of cases and even if a benign adenoma is detected, there is usually no cause for concern. Naturally, this condition will be monitored carefully. Should hormonal levels begin to change, surgery may then be warranted. Most surgeries will be accomplished without incident and patients will make a physical recovery in a matter of weeks. During this time period (and as is common with any invasive abdominal surgery), patients should rest and not perform ay strenuous activities, although they can still remain quite mobile. There may also be the need for hormone replacement therapy in the case that a bilateral operation is performed (that is, both adrenal glands are removed).
Obviously, any malignancy that is found will be treated quite differently, although the prognosis is still very good. As mentioned earlier, overall recovery rates will primarily depend on early detection and the physical condition of the patient. Once a biopsy and performed, various tests will determine if the malignancy has spread to other nearby organs (such as the kidneys, lungs or spleen). The treatment methods will directly depend on this factor. These can include chemotherapy, targeted radiation therapy or both. In this case, the gland and the growth will be completely removed and in some incidences, a kidney may also be excised to prevent a potential spread. Once again, hormone replacement therapy may be recommended after recovery.
Overall, the prognosis for the benign form (the largest percentage) of adrenal adenomas is exceedingly good. Naturally, there may be some lifestyle changes that need to be made in order to make certain that such a prediction remains valid. This can include losing weight, exercising more regularly and quitting smoking.
In the future, it is hoped that more advanced imaging techniques will allow for adrenal adenoma to be detected even earlier. This can be beneficial if combined with genetic research designed to determine the probability of one developing this condition later in life. Should these methods become a reality, it is thought that such early detection techniques will help improve the chances of a positive prognosis even further. Obviously, advances in cancer treatment methods will also have a direct influence on success rates and a full recovery.