Pheochromocytoma

A pheochromocytoma is a type of tumor that makes hormones that raise your blood pressure. Most pheochromocytomas grow in your adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands are located on top of your kidneys.

The Adrenal Glands

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• Some pheochromocytomas are cancerous but most aren't

• Pheochromocytomas are often caused by genetic diseases

• Pheochromocytomas usually happen between ages 20 and 40

• You have high blood pressure that sometimes comes and goes

• You may have headaches, sweating, and feel your heart beating fast and pounding

• Doctors usually do surgery to take out a pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytomas are often caused by rare genetic diseases, such as:

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia

• Von Hippel-Lindau disease

• Neurofibromatosis

You can also get pheochromocytoma without having one of these diseases. Doctors don't know the cause of pheochromocytoma in these people.

Symptoms include:

• Fast, pounding heart

• Sweating

• Feeling light-headed when standing

• Fast breathing

• Cold and clammy skin

• Severe headaches

Symptoms often come and go and may feel like a panic attack.

Doctors test for a pheochromocytoma using:

• Blood and urine tests

• CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

If you have a pheochromocytoma, doctors may also do genetic tests to see if a rare condition is causing a pheochromocytoma.

Doctors give you medicine to control your blood pressure and then do:

• Surgery to remove the tumor