Clinical Study of the Pheochromocytoma

Background: Pheochromocytoma may arise within the adrenal medulla, or in other locations where sympathetic ganglia or chromaffin tissues are known to exist. Approximately 0.1% of hypertensive patients have pheochromocytoma. Most of this hypertension can be cured by surgical removal of the tumor, but lethal complication can develop if proper treatment is not prepared. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and preoperative preparation is very important. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of pheochromocytoma and the blood pressure change following tumor removal. Method: The medical records of 45 patients [29 cases of intra-adrenal, 16 cases of extra-adrenal (paraganglioma)] diagnosed with of pheochromocytoma at Korea University Medical Center between 1991 and 2001 were reviewed. Results: Twenty of the cases were male and 25 were female. The mean age of these patients was 43 years old. Hypertension, headaches, palpitations and impaired glucose tolerance were observed more frequently in cases of intra-adrenal tumor than in those of extra-adrenal. In the extra-adrenal group, abdominal pain, hypertension and nausea were more frequently observed. A biochemical study showed that the sensitivity of the test for catecholamines and metabolites in 24 hours urine was over 80%. For the localization of tumors we used abdominal CT and MIBG. The sensitivities of the CT and MIBG for the tumor localization were 97 and 91%, respectively. Blood pressures during the operations were effectively controlled by preoperative treatment with phenoxybenzamine (non-competitive, non-selective a-adrenoreceptor antagonists). Conclusion: Surgical treatment cured 23 of the 30 cases of hypertension with pheochromocytoma. We have to take careful approaches in the care of the patient who may have pheochromocytoma, due to the various clinical signs and symptoms.