A pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor of chromaffin cells typically located in the adrenals. It causes persistent or paroxysmal hypertension. Diagnosis is by measuring catecholamine products in blood or urine. Imaging tests, especially CT or MRI, help localize tumors. Treatment involves removal of the tumor when possible. Alpha-blockade, usually combined with beta-blockade, is used to control blood pressure.
(See also Overview of Adrenal Function.)
The catecholamines secreted include norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and dopa in varying proportions.
Most pheochromocytomas are in the
Adrenal medulla (approximately 90%)
Pheochromocytomas may also be located in other tissues derived from neural crest cells. Possible sites include the following:
Paraganglia of the sympathetic chain
Retroperitoneally along the course of the aorta
Carotid body
Organ of Zuckerkandl (at the aortic bifurcation)
Genitourinary system
Brain
Pericardial sac
Dermoid cysts
Pheochromocytomas in the adrenal medulla occur equally in both sexes, are bilateral in 10% of cases (20% in children), and are malignant in < 10% (1). Of extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas (known as paragangliomas), 30% are malignant. Although pheochromocytomas occur at any age, peak incidence is between 20 and 40 years. Nearly 50% are thought to be due to germline mutations. Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas are more likely to be malignant and metastasize.
Pheochromocytomas vary in size but average 5 to 6 cm in diameter. They weigh 50 to 200 g, but tumors weighing several kilograms have been reported. Rarely, they are large enough to be palpated or cause symptoms due to pressure or obstruction. Regardless of the histologic appearance, the tumor is considered benign if it has not invaded the capsule and no metastases are found, although exceptions occur. In general, larger tumors are more likely to be recurrent or metastatic.
Pheochromocytomas may be part of the syndrome of familial multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B, in which other endocrine tumors (parathyroid carcinoma or medullary carcinoma of the thyroid) coexist or develop subsequently. Pheochromocytoma develops in 1% of patients with neurofibromatosis and may occur with hemangioblastomas and renal cell carcinoma, as in von Hippel-Lindau disease. Familial pheochromocytomas and carotid body tumors may be due to mutations in genes encoding the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase or other signaling molecules.
Paragangliomas arising in the head or neck originate from chromaffin cells in parasympathetic ganglia, can secrete catecholamines, and are referred to as head-and-neck paragangliomas.
General reference
1. Pacak K, Tella SH. Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma. [Updated 2018 Jan 4]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481899/
Symptoms and Signs of Pheochromocytoma
Hypertension, which is paroxysmal in 45% of patients, occurs in most patients with pheochromocytomas and is prominent. Conversely, about 0.2% to 0.6% of hypertensive patients have a pheochromocytoma (1). Common symptoms and signs are
Tachycardia
Diaphoresis
Postural hypotension
Tachypnea
Cold and clammy skin
Severe headache
Angina
Palpitations
Nausea and vomiting
Epigastric pain
Visual disturbances
Dyspnea
Paresthesias
Constipation
A sense of impending doom
Paroxysmal attacks may be provoked by palpation of the tumor, postural changes, abdominal compression or massage, induction of anesthesia, emotional trauma, unopposed beta-blockade (which paradoxically increases blood pressure by blocking beta-mediated vasodilation), or micturition (if the tumor is in the bladder). In older patients, severe weight loss with persistent hypertension is suggestive of pheochromocytoma.
Physical examination, except for the presence of hypertension, is usually normal unless done during a paroxysmal attack. Retinopathy and cardiomegaly are often less severe than might be expected for the degree of hypertension, but a specific catecholamine cardiomyopathy can occur. However, cardiac and cerebrovascular events are more frequent in patients with pheochromocytomas than in others with similar blood pressure levels.
Symptoms and signs reference
1. Wang X, Zhao Q, Sang H, Dong J, Bai M. Research on the Damage of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma to Patients' Cardiovascular Vessels and Its Correlation with Hypertension. J Oncol 2022;2022:3644212. Published 2022 Feb 11. doi:10.1155/2022/3644212
Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma
Plasma free metanephrines or urinary metanephrines
Chest and abdomen imaging (CT or MRI) if catecholamine screen positive
Nuclear imaging with Gallium-68 dotatate-PET scanning
Pheochromocytoma is suspected in patients with typical symptoms or particularly sudden, severe, or intermittent unexplained hypertension, especially in younger patients and those with resistant hypertension. Diagnosis involves demonstrating high levels of catecholamine products in the serum or urine.
Blood tests
Plasma free metanephrines are up to 99% sensitive with either metanephrine or more frequently normetanephrine being elevated. This test has superior sensitivity to measurement of circulating epinephrine and norepinephrine because plasma metanephrines are elevated continuously, unlike epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are secreted intermittently. Grossly elevated plasma norepinephrine renders the diagnosis highly probable. Plasma 3-methoxytyramine is a metabolite of dopamine and is indicative of a more aggressive tumor.
Urine tests
Urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine levels are slightly less specific for pheochromocytoma than plasma free metanephrine, but elevation of either metabolite has approximately 95% sensitivity . Two or 3 normal results while the patient is hypertensive render the diagnosis extremely unlikely. Measurement of urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine is less accurate.
The principal urinary metabolic products of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are the
Metanephrines (metanephrine and normetanephrine)
Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), which is another metabolite of epinephrine and norepinephrine
Homovanillic acid (HVA), which is a metabolite of dopamine
Healthy people excrete only very small amounts of these substances. Normal values for 24 hours are as follows:
Free epinephrine and norepinephrine < 100 mcg (< 582 nmol)
Total metanephrine < 1.3 mg (< 7.1 micromole), but fractionated metanephrine and normetanephrine are preferable
VMA < 10 mg (< 50 micromoles), which is now rarely used
HVA < 15 mg (< 82.4 micromoles), which is mainly used to detect neuroblastoma in children
In pheochromocytoma, increased urinary excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine and their metabolic products is intermittent. Elevated excretion of these compounds may also occur in
Other disorders (eg, neuroblastoma, coma, dehydration, sleep apnea)
Extreme stress
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Patients using some illicit or recreational drugs
Ingestion of foods containing large quantities of VMA such as chocolate, coffee, tea, bananas, vanilla-containing foods.
Other tests
Blood volume is constricted and may falsely elevate hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Hyperglycemia, glycosuria, or overt diabetes mellitus may be present, with elevated fasting levels of plasma free fatty acid and glycerol. Plasma insulin level is inappropriately low for the plasma glucose. After removal of the pheochromocytoma, hypoglycemia may occur, especially in patients treated with oral antihyperglycemics.
Provocative tests with histamine or tyramine are hazardous and should not be used.> 35/25 mm Hg within 2 minutes in normotensive patients with pheochromocytoma, but its use is now generally unnecessary.
Pearls & Pitfalls
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A suppression test
Imaging tests to localize tumors are usually done in patients with abnormal blood and urine test results. Tests should include CT and MRI of the chest and abdomen with and without contrast. With isotonic contrast agents, no adrenoceptor blockade is necessary. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET has also been used successfully, especially in patients with succinate dehydrogenase mutations, but Gallium-68 dotatate-PET scanning is more sensitive.
During catheterization of the vena cava, repeated sampling of plasma catecholamine concentrations at different locations, including the adrenal veins, can help localize the tumor; there will be an increase in norepinephrine level in a vein draining the tumor. Adrenal vein norepinephrine:epinephrine ratios may help in the hunt for a small adrenal source, but determining these ratios is now rarely necessary.
Radiopharmaceuticals with nuclear imaging techniques can also help localize pheochromocytomas. Radionuclide imaging is rapidly advancing, and increasingly metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123 MIBG) is being replaced by Gallium-68 dotatate-PET scanning.
Signs of an associated genetic disorder (eg, café-au-lait patches in neurofibromatosis) should be sought. Patients should be screened for MEN with a serum calcitonin measurement and any other tests as directed by clinical findings. Most centers routinely do genetic testing, especially when the pheochromocytoma involves the sympathetic paraganglia and in younger patients, but probably all patients with pheochromocytoma should have genetic testing.
Treatment of Pheochromocytoma
Hypertension control with combination of alpha-blockers and then beta-blockers
Surgical removal of tumor with careful perioperative control of blood pressure and volume status
The blood pressure target is <
Pearls & Pitfalls
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When bilateral tumors are documented or suspected (as in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia
Most pheochromocytomas can be removed laparoscopically. Blood pressure must be continuously monitored via an intra-arterial catheter
norepinephrine
Malignant metastatic pheochromocytomavon Hippel-Lindau disease, is currently undergoing clinical trials in patients with malignant metastatic pheochromocytoma.
Key Points
Hypertension may be constant or episodic.
Diagnosis involves demonstrating high levels of catecholamine products (typically plasma free metanephrines in the serum or 24-hour metanephrines in the urine).
Tumors should be localized with imaging tests, usually including using radiolabeled compounds.
A combination of alpha-blockers and beta-blockers are given pending tumor removal.
Genetic tesing should be done to plan optimal follow-up for the patient and to identify family members at risk.
