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Pheochromocytoma
Summary
Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that usually starts in the cells of one of your adrenal glands. Although they are usually benign, pheochromocytomas often cause the adrenal gland to make too many hormones. This can lead to high blood pressure and cause symptoms such as :
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Pounding of the heart
- Being shaky
- Being extremely pale
Sometimes pheochromocytoma is part of another condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome (MEN). People with MEN often have other cancers and other problems involving hormones.
Doctors use lab tests and imaging tests to diagnose it. Surgery is the most common treatment. Other options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
Patient Handouts
- Adrenal gland removal Medical Encyclopedia
- Catecholamine blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Catecholamines – urine Medical Encyclopedia
- MIBG scintiscan Medical Encyclopedia
- Pheochromocytoma Medical Encyclopedia
Treatments and Therapies
- Adrenal Gland Removal (Adrenalectomy) Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- Drugs Approved for Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma National Cancer Institute
- Treatment Option Overview (Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma) National Cancer Institute
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
- Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Find an Endocrinologist Endocrine Society
- National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Catecholamine Tests National Library of Medicine
- How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Pheochromocytoma? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Stages of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma National Cancer Institute
Children
- Childhood Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment National Cancer Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pheochromocytoma National Institutes of Health
Start Here
- General Information about Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma National Cancer Institute
- Pheochromocytoma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: Overview Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Genetics
- Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Nonsyndromic paraganglioma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Related Issues
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Statistics and Research
- Neuroendocrine Tumors: Statistics American Society of Clinical Oncology
Reference Desk
- Paraganglioma Anatomy National Cancer Institute
Journal Articles
Symptoms
- What Are Common Symptoms of Pheochromocytoma? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development