Is it okay not to remove a pheochromocytoma?

Written by Gan Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on February 23, 2025
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For patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, it is recommended that surgical removal is the best option. Pheochromocytoma, also known as an adrenal medullary tumor, originates from the sympathetic ganglia in the adrenal medulla and other related chromaffin tissues. This type of disease can secrete large amounts of catecholamines, causing episodic or persistent hypertension, as well as other related metabolic disorder syndromes. It often presents as potentially fatal hypertension, accompanied by potentially fatal hypotension or even shock, leading to symptoms such as increased heart rate, palpitations, and fear. Patients with pheochromocytoma are advised to undergo timely surgical treatment, as general drug treatments are unable to control or cure the condition.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is pheochromocytoma a cancer?

Pheochromocytoma is not a cancer. It is a special type of tumor tissue that usually originates from the neuroectodermal chromaffin tissue. It can secrete catecholamines. Based on the specific origins of the tumor cells, it can be divided into types such as parasympathetic, paraganglioma, sympathetic, and ganglioneuroma. Most often, it presents with long-term hypertension, which can cause damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys due to prolonged hypertension, or severe increases in blood pressure can lead to hypertensive brain hemorrhage, thereby endangering the patient's life. Early treatment is often necessary.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Which department should I go to for pheochromocytoma?

When pheochromocytoma occurs, it is generally recommended to visit the endocrinology department of a local hospital. Pheochromocytoma refers to tumors originating from the neuroectoderm, specifically chromaffin tissue. These tumors usually secrete catecholamines and can be classified into various types based on their origin. Patients typically exhibit a pronounced hypermetabolic state, such as malignant hypertension or hyperglycemia, and some suffer significant damage to the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain tissue due to malignant hypertension. For instance, this can lead to heart failure or hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, severely threatening the patient's life. Treatment typically involves surgical intervention.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Malignant manifestations of pheochromocytoma

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.