Pheochromocytoma

Question 1

PCC: ? secreting tumours arising from sympathetic paraganglial cells, known as ? cells.
- They are usually found in the ? medulla.
o 10% are extra-?.
o 10% are ?.
o 10% are ?.
---• ? 2a/2b.
---• ?.
---•? ?-? syndrome.

Answer 1

catecholamine
chromaffin
adrenal
adrenal
bilateral
familial
MEN
Neurofibromatosis
Von Hippel-Lindau

Question 2

Presentation is usually with ? / ? ? unresponsive to ? treatment

Answer 2

severe/episodic hypertension

medical

Question 3

There are often vague ? symptoms;
o General : sweating, ? intolerance, ? or ?.
o Neurological : headaches, ?disturbances, ?.
o CV: ?, chest ?, dyspnoea, postural ?.
o GI: ? pain, nausea, ?.

Answer 3

episodic
heat
pallor/flushing
visual
seizures

palpitations
tightness
hypertension
abdo
constipation

Question 4

Symptoms may be worsened by ?, ? or drugs.

o ? can induce life-threatening ? episodes in patients without adequate ?-blockade.

Answer 4

drugs, stress, exercise
b blockers
hypertensive
alpha

Question 5

Diagnosis;
o ?x ?hour ? collections for raised free ? & normetadrenaline.
o ?/ ?/ functional imaging to ? the tumour.

Answer 5

3x24 h urine
metadrenaline
ct
mri
locate

Question 6

Management;
o alpha blockade with ?.
o ? once alpha blockade established.
o ? ?

Answer 6

phenoxybenzamine
b blockers
surgical excision