What is pheochromocytoma?
Pheochromocytoma (pronounced fee-oh-kro-mo-sigh-TOE-mah) is a rare tumor in part of the adrenal gland. In most cases, the tumors are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. But, in about 30 percent of cases, the tumors are cancerous.
The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system—which releases hormones and other substances to help control how the body functions. The glands are located on the top of both kidneys.
The glands produce epinephrine or norepinephrine (also called adrenaline or noradrenaline), which help the body maintain blood pressure and cope with stress. The glands also produce hormones needed for maintaining the fluid and salt balance in the body. The adrenal glands make hormones that give instructions to almost every organ and tissue in the body.
Pheochromocytoma is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
What are the symptoms of pheochromocytoma?
Most people with pheochromocytoma have high blood pressure (hypertension) because the tumor causes the adrenal gland to produce too much adrenaline or noradrenaline. Patients can have attacks of high blood pressure that occur in sudden, short bursts, or the high blood pressure can be more continuous and long lasting.
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and other problems. Many patients also have headaches, severe sweating, and heart palpitations.
Other symptoms of pheochromocytoma may include:
What is the treatment for pheochromocytoma?
The usual treatment for pheochromocytoma is removal of the tumor through surgery. In most cases, removing the tumor returns the blood pressure to normal. But this treatment seems to be more effective in patients whose high blood pressure is sporadic, rather than in those whose high blood pressure is long lasting.
In 2002, the NIH convened a panel of experts to develop guidelines for treating these tumors.
A health care provider may prescribe medication to lower high blood pressure.
Although most cases of pheochromocytoma are non-cancerous (benign), some tumors are cancerous. Treatment in such cases may also include radiation or chemotherapy.