Malignant manifestations of pheochromocytoma

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 06, 2024
00:00
00:00

For patients with pheochromocytoma, when malignant pheochromocytoma occurs and leads to hypertensive crisis, it often causes severe blood pressure increases, with blood pressure even reaching over 300 mmHg. At the same time, patients present with significant symptoms such as arrhythmia, tachycardia, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Some patients may also experience prominent chest pain, labored breathing, respiratory distress, and even marked sensations of urgency or anxiety, as well as a feeling of impending doom. Additionally, some patients may experience transient vascular constriction dysfunction due to severe hypertension, leading to cerebral hemorrhage.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
49sec home-news-image

Can pheochromocytoma cause back pain?

Pheochromocytoma can also manifest as back pain, but this typically occurs when the pheochromocytoma has grown very large and is more likely to cause it. Generally, the initial symptoms are more often high blood pressure. After the increase in blood pressure, it can indirectly cause symptoms such as arrhythmias, palpitations, excessive sweating, or dizziness. Therefore, judgment must be based on the situation. If the patient has long-term uncontrolled hypertension, or fluctuating blood pressure, it is important to consider testing for pheochromocytoma. For pheochromocytomas, unless they grow very large and compress surrounding organs, it is rare for abdominal pain to occur. Therefore, a thorough examination is necessary for a clearer diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
48sec home-news-image

How is pheochromocytoma diagnosed?

For the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, further examinations need to be completed first. These examinations mainly include qualitative tests and localization tests. The qualitative tests are primarily conducted through laboratory tests to measure the levels of catecholamine-related metabolites to further determine the presence of the tumor. Localization tests are performed using abdominal ultrasound, abdominal CT, and, if necessary, high-resolution abdominal CT to pinpoint the location of the tumor. Once the qualitative and localization diagnostics are performed, it can be confirmed whether a pheochromocytoma exists and its specific location. Depending on the situation, surgery can be used to remove the tumor, in conjunction with pharmacological treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
46sec home-news-image

Is surgery necessary for pheochromocytoma?

For patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, it is recommended to undergo surgery as soon as possible. Complete surgical removal of the tumor often results in a very good therapeutic effect. Before surgery, some medications can be appropriately used for treatment. For example, it is advised to choose adrenergic receptor blockers, which can significantly improve the patient's condition. These can be taken orally before the operation to help gradually regulate blood pressure, or other medications such as calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and vasodilators may be used. Only through a combination of medication and surgery can satisfactory treatment results be achieved.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
46sec home-news-image

What department does pheochromocytoma see?

Pheochromocytomas generally require a visit to urology for treatment. Initially, they mostly present with symptoms of hypertension, leading many to first visit cardiology. After differential diagnoses have ruled out other causes and confirmed pheochromocytoma, patients must then seek treatment from urology. Pheochromocytomas are generally located in the adrenal glands, hence they require surgical removal by a urologist. It is crucial to strictly control blood pressure during surgery, as fluctuations can be severe and significantly impact the patient's physical and mental health. Therefore, if a pheochromocytoma is detected, it is critical to seek timely medical treatment for a relatively better prognosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
46sec home-news-image

How is pheochromocytoma diagnosed?

For the examination of pheochromocytoma, it is generally recommended to use qualitative or localization diagnostic methods. Qualitative examinations typically involve collecting metabolites of catecholamines from urine and blood to further facilitate a definitive diagnosis. Localization examinations are conducted through abdominal ultrasound, CT, or MRI to further identify the specific growth location of the pheochromocytoma. After a definitive diagnosis through qualitative and localization examinations, surgery is generally recommended to effectively remove the pheochromocytoma. Additionally, antihypertensive medication can be used to help control symptoms.