The signs and symptoms of a pheochromocytoma are those related to sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity. While tumors of the head and neck are parasympathetic, their sympathetic counterparts are predominantly located in the abdomen and pelvis, particularly concentrated at the organ of Zuckerkandl. Rarely, some tumors (especially paragangliomas) may secrete little to no catecholamines, making diagnosis difficult. These neuroendocrine tumors typically release massive amounts of catecholamines, metanephrines, or methoxytyramine, which result in the most common symptoms, including hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (fast heart rate), and diaphoresis (sweating). When a tumor composed of the same cells as a pheochromocytoma develops outside the adrenal gland, it is referred to as a paraganglioma. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla composed of chromaffin cells, also known as pheochromocytes. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and pharmacologic agents Hypertension, tachycardia, sweating, headache, pallorĮlevated plasma free metanephrines, plasma catecholamines, or urinary catecholamines / ˌ f iː oʊ ˌ k r oʊ m oʊ s ʌ ɪ ˈ t oʊ m ə/ (fee-oh-kroh-moh-sahy-toh-muh).
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