Open AccessUnusual presentation of pheochromocytoma
Author(s) -
Rajendra B Nerli,
Ranjeeth A. Patil,
Pravin B Patne,
Sneha Suresh,
Murigendra B Hiremath
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the scientific society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7127
pISSN - 0974-5009
DOI - 10.4103/0974-5009.132866
Subject(s) - metanephrines , pheochromocytoma , medicine , palpitations , blood pressure , paraganglioma , catecholamine , adrenal medulla , hormone , endocrinology , pathology
Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors that arise from chromaffin tissue within the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal sites. Due to the excess secretion of hormones, these tumors often cause debilitating symptoms and a poor quality-of-life. Although medical management plays a significant role in the treatment of pheochromocytoma patients, surgical excision remains the only cure. Pheochromocytoma usually has three classic symptoms-headache, sweating and heart palpitations (a fast heart beat) in association with markedly elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Hormones such as catecholamines and metanephrines are measured in a 24 h urine collection and metanephrines may also be measured in the blood, to make a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. If these are greater than 2 times the normal level, imaging studies are usually done to look at the adrenal glands. We report on three cases of pheochromocytoma, which had unusual presentation