Summaries of an forty year experience with adrenal pheochromocytoma

Purpose:To evaluate the diagnostic and treatment procedures for adrenal pheochromocytoma.Methods:220 cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma surgical treated between 1958～1998 were reviewed, including 19 cases of static pheochromocytoma. 15 cases of bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma,4 cases of familial pheochromocytoma, 2 cases of MEN Ⅱ,2 cases of Von Hippel lindau diseases,7 cases of malignant pheochromocytoma.Results:Open surgery with ablation of the tumors were undertaken in all the 220 patients, of which 2 cases died from surgery.Conclusions:Definitive preoperative diagnosis is useful to increase surgical safety of static pheochromocytoma. Sufficient preoperative preparation reduces complication of pheochromocytoma cardiomyopathy. Imaging procedures determine surgical pathway.