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New Therapeutic and Surgical Approaches for Sporadic and Hereditary Pheochromocytoma
Author(s) -
WALTHER McCLELLAN M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04411.x
Subject(s) - pheochromocytoma , medicine , catecholamine , laparoscopy , blockade , paraganglioma , surgery , receptor
A bstract : Pheochromocytoma is a rare, surgically correctable cause of hypertension. Modern medical blockade has significantly improved patient survival and morbidity. The last decade has seen the identification of the genes responsible for several hereditary causes of pheochromocytoma. Evaluation of these patients has demonstrated different catecholamine profiles associated with the different syndromes. Genetic testing and new, more sensitive catecholamine tests are allowing better, earlier diagnosis of affected patients. Some patients with small tumors deemed nonfunctional by traditional methods may be safely observed until function is demonstrated. Laparoscopic surgery has supplanted the use of open surgery in the management of these tumors. Adrenocortical‐sparing surgery may be performed using laparoscopy in patients with hereditary forms of pheochromocytoma.