Adrenal tumours may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Adrenal adenomas are non-cancerous growths in adrenal glands. Adrenal adenomas don't usually cause symptoms or require treatment.
Another characteristic difference between virilism due to hyperplasia and that due to carcinoma of the adrenal cortex is the high level of urinary dehydroepiandrosterone excretion in the latter.