The Incidence of Metastasis of Malignant Tumors to the Adrenals

Abstract

The frequency with which adrenal metastases from malignant tumors are observed is striking, in view of the relative infrequency of secondary neoplastic deposits in many larger organs receiving a similar arterial blood supply. This great susceptibility of the adrenals to secondary tumor growth is not generally emphasized in the literature, though in some statistical studies figures are found indicating the predilection of certain tumors for metastasis to these organs. Willis (4) in his monograph on metastatic tumors gives the following figures: In 323 autopsies on patients dying of malignant neoplasms, blood-borne secondary growths were present in the adrenals in 27 (8.3 per cent). Of these, 7 came from carcinomas of the breast, 3 from the lung, 3 from the colon, 2 from the thyroid, and 12 from miscellaneous sources. Willis found the incidence of metastatic growth in the adrenals to be greatest from carcinomas of the lung (20–30 per cent) and from malignant melanoblastomas.