The adrenal glands are hormone-producing powerhouses. Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers; they instruct your body to do something something. For example, if your body experiences extreme stress, it releases the hormone cortisol, which primes your body’s “fight or flight” response.

Cortisol is one of many hormones created by the adrenal glands. Others include:

• Aldosterone.
• DHEA and androgenic steroids
• Epinephrine (adrenaline)
• Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

The most common adrenal gland disorders are adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease. In these disorders, symptoms tend to develop slowly, but can include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Weight loss and decreased appetite
• Extremely low blood sugar
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle or joint pain
• Weakness
• Depression

Your doctor may order an adrenal scan if you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms. Adrenal gland scans allow your doctor to better understand whether adrenal gland dysfunction or disease is causing your symptoms.

An adrenal gland scan produces images of your adrenal glands and the surrounding soft tissues. Because the adrenal glands are situated on top of the kidneys, the scan will also show parts of the upper kidneys, lower lungs, and ribs.

Here are some things that can show up on adrenal gland scans:

• Abnormal growths
• Tumors
• Inflammation
• Tissue degeneration

Some scans can also indicate whether a growth on the adrenal gland is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).

Because the primary responsibility of the adrenal gland is to produce chemicals that cause other cells in the body to act a certain way, adrenal disorders tend to manifest as symptoms other than pain.

If you experience sudden pain in your lower abdomen, combined with vomiting, nausea, confusion, or low blood sugar, seek medical attention immediately. This is a sign of adrenal crisis caused by severely depleted cortisol.

Common adrenal gland disorders include:

• Tumors
• Addison’s disease
• Cushing’s disease
• Adrenal insufficiency

Your doctor will advise on the best scan for you to receive based on your symptoms and clinical presentation.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is similar to a CT scan and creates detailed images of the adrenal glands, soft tissues, bones, and muscles. However, an MRI uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to generate images of the adrenal glands, rather than ionizing radiation.

MRIs are more sensitive than CT scans and are often able to differentiate between cancerous and noncancerous tissue types. If an abnormal adrenal growth is detected on a different type of imaging scan, or your doctor suspects there may be a tumor, they might order an adrenal gland MRI to make a more definitive diagnosis.

The cost of an adrenal scan depends on a few factors:

• The type of scan being performed
• The scanning center
• Your insurance coverage (including deductible, copay, network status, etc.)

Generally, ultrasounds are less expensive than other medical imaging scans.

The length of an adrenal scan varies based on the type of scan being performed, but, generally speaking, you can expect an adrenal scan to take between 30 and 45 minutes. In some cases it may take longer.

If you need an adrenal scan, scan.com’s scan search tool is a quick and easy way to find an imaging center near you.

Resources:

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/adrenal-glands
2. https://medlineplus.gov/hormones.html 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279083/
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16717-adrenal-disorders
4. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/adrenal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html
5. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/adrenal-cancer/x-ray-tests-adrenal-gland-tumors
6. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/imaging-center/exams/mri/adrenal-glands.html