Pheochromocytoma history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [2]Mohammed Abdelwahed M.D[3]
Overview
Symptoms of pheochromocytoma include episodes of tachycardia, sweating and headaches.[1] Most patients don't have all symptoms. Less common symptoms include cardiomyopathy and episodic hypotension.[2]Patients may have a history of recurrent attacks of palpitation or family history of pheochromocytoma. Patients may show symptoms of other multiple endocrine neoplasias associated diseases such as medullary thyroid, hyperparathyroidism.
History and Symptoms
History
Obtaining history of pheochromocytoma patients may show past history of recurrent attacks of palpitation or panic attacks.Family history of pheochromocytoma increase chances of MEN2 in patients.
Common Symptoms
The hallmark symptoms of a pheochromocytoma are those of sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, symptoms usually subside in less than one hour and they may include:
- Palpitations especially in epinephrine producing tumors.[3]
- Anxiety often resembling that of a panic attack
- Sweating
- Headaches occur in 90 % of patients.
- paroxysmal attacks of hypertension but some patients have normal blood pressure.
- May be asymptomatic and discovered by incidence screening especially MEN patients.
Please note that not all patients with pheochromocytoma experience all classical symptoms.
Less Common Symptoms
Less common symptoms include:
- Cardiomyopathy: rare symptom due to catecholamine excess mimics takotsubo cardiomyopathy.[4] Patient improves after medical teatment or surgical removal of the tumor.
- Epinephrine secreting masses can cause episodic hypotension.[5]
Associated diseases
Pheochromocytoma patients may show symptoms of other diseases in MEN2 syndromes such as:
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Marfanoid features
- Medullary thyroid cancer
- The patient may show symptoms associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL).
References
- ↑ Stein PP, Black HR (1991). "A simplified diagnostic approach to pheochromocytoma. A review of the literature and report of one institution's experience". Medicine (Baltimore). 70 (1): 46–66. PMID 1988766.
- ↑ Baguet JP, Hammer L, Mazzuco TL, Chabre O, Mallion JM, Sturm N; et al. (2004). "Circumstances of discovery of phaeochromocytoma: a retrospective study of 41 consecutive patients". Eur J Endocrinol. 150 (5): 681–6. PMID 15132724.
- ↑ Bravo EL, Gifford RW (1993). "Pheochromocytoma". Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 22 (2): 329–41. PMID 8325290.
- ↑ Kassim TA, Clarke DD, Mai VQ, Clyde PW, Mohamed Shakir KM (2008). "Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy". Endocr Pract. 14 (9): 1137–49. doi:10.4158/EP.14.9.1137. PMID 19158054.
- ↑ Bravo EL (1994). "Evolving concepts in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pheochromocytoma". Endocr Rev. 15 (3): 356–68. doi:10.1210/edrv-15-3-356. PMID 8076587.