Endocrine Tumours
Endocrine tumours are cancerous or non-cancerous growths that affect any of the endocrine glands in the body, such as the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and pancreas.
What are endocrine tumours?
Endocrine glands are a group of glands in your body that make and release hormones into your bloodstream. This helps control important functions like metabolism, growth, and reproduction.
An endocrine tumour is an abnormal growth on any of these glands, which can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Because these tumours affect hormone-producing cells, they can also produce hormones themselves, which may cause a shift in the body's hormonal balance.
An endocrine tumour can develop on any of the endocrine glands, but those most commonly affected include the:
pituitary gland – a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain that helps you respond to stress, produces sperm in males, controls egg development in females, and stimulates growth and muscle development
thyroid gland – a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck. It produces thyroid hormones, which help regulate your body's metabolism, and control how energy is used
adrenal glands – you have 2 adrenal glands on top of each kidney. They help regulate your metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, immune response, and the body's reaction to stress
pancreas – an abdominal gland that produces enzymes to help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, and hormones to regulate blood sugar levels
Our consultant endocrinologists see patients with endocrine tumours in our purpose-built Endocrinology centre, where they offer the most advanced care in both diagnostics and treatment.
More information
Many endocrine tumours will cause no symptoms. But if symptoms are noticeable, they may vary depending on which gland is affected.
Signs to watch out for include:
thyroid tumours – a noticeable lump, and/or symptoms of underactive or overactive thyroid
pituitary tumours – sexual problems, fertility issues, vision changes, and abnormal growth
adrenal tumours – unusual weight changes, abnormal hair growth, and low sex drive
pancreas tumours – blurred vision, headaches, anxiety, and feeling faint
It isn’t always clear what causes an endocrine tumour to develop, but it’s thought that random DNA mutations may lead to uncontrolled cell growth.
Other factors that may increase your chances of developing an endocrine tumour include:
family history and genetics – some endocrine gland tumours have no clear hereditary cause, but a family history of a rare syndrome called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, conditions called neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis, or a carcinoid tumour may put you at a higher risk
your sex – women who haven’t been through the menopause may be more likely to get a thyroid tumour, for example
conditions that affect certain glands – such as a swollen thyroid (goitre), chronic pancreatitis, Hashimoto's disease, diabetes, or nodules (non-cancerous lumps) in or on your thyroid
radiation exposure – being exposed to radiation, arsenic, or having had radiotherapy treatment in the past
your age – some tumours are more common in people over the age of 65, such as pancreatic tumours
lifestyle factors – such as obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption can increase the risk of pancreatic tumours
If you have any symptoms of an endocrine tumour, we recommend making an appointment with one of our consultants in our outpatient Endocrinology centre.
At a consultation, your specialist will ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and run some other tests, such as:
blood tests – which can reveal if a tumour is affecting hormone production
imaging scans – such as an ultrasound or MRI scan to make a diagnosis, and identify if the tumour is cancerous or non-cancerous
There’s no way to avoid endocrine tumours completely, but you may be able to reduce your risk by:
reducing alcohol intake
not smoking
keeping a healthy body weight and staying active
eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in processed foods
Most endocrine tumours are non-cancerous, and even those that are cancerous can be treated successfully.
Complications happen when the tumour causes the affected gland to make excess hormones, leading to symptoms like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
If an endocrine tumour is cancerous, there’s also a chance of cancer spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.
Treatment options for endocrine tumours depend on whether it’s cancerous or not. In most cases, an endocrine tumour is non-cancerous and may need no further care, especially if it’s not causing symptoms.
If treatment is needed, the best approach depends on the tumour type, size, location, and growth over time. Options can include:
surgery
chemotherapy
radiotherapy
hormone therapy
At Welbeck, our endocrinologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
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Frequently asked questions
Alongside the thyroid, pancreas, pituitary, and adrenal glands, the endocrine system includes multiple other endocrine glands, such as the hypothalamus, pineal, parathyroid, thymus, ovaries, and testes.
In most cases, endocrine tumours are non-cancerous. If an endocrine tumour is cancerous, the cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, where new tumours may form. Endocrine cancer is rare, but it’s serious and needs urgent medical attention.
While many types of endocrine cancer are rare, thyroid cancer is the most common, but in most cases, it responds very well to treatment.
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a specific type of endocrine tumour that form in specialised cells, called neuroendocrine cells. These cells blend functions of both the nervous and endocrine systems by responding to nerve signals and releasing hormones. All NETs are endocrine tumours because they involve endocrine cells, but only a small section of endocrine tumours are NETs.