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Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a rare endocrine disease in which there is a production of  a large amount of catecholamines (adrenaline and similar hormones) by a tumor which is usually benign and is often located in the adrenal glands.

However, sometimes this tumor is located outside the adrenal glands, somewhere else in the abdomen or even in other parts of the body.

Occasionally this tumor may be a cancer.

Symptoms:

There is a long list  of symptoms of pheochromocytoma. Usually symptoms occur in episodes.

Attacks of severe headaches, heart palpitations and excessive perspiration in the presence of high blood pressure is the usual combination of symptoms of pheochromocytoma.

Other symptoms include nervousness, anxiety, flushing of skin, etc.

Severe high blood pressure in a young person is another manifestation of pheochromocytoma.

High blood pressure is present in most patients with pheochromocytoma.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is a difficult one.

Many other common diseases such as thyroid disease, panic attacks and menopause syndrome can give rise to similar symptoms.

A systematic, thorough evaluation by an endocrinologist is the best way to diagnose this rare, but a very important disease

Treatment :

Treatment is most often surgical removal of the tumor.

Treatment before, during and soon after surgery is crucial and must be carried out by an endocrinologist, otherwise serious complications and even death can take place.

An experienced anesthesiologist and an experienced surgeon are extremely important in the surgery of a pheochromocytoma patient.