Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact us
    • Disclaimer
    • About Us
    • Nutrition / Diet
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • All categories
    Home»Cancer / Oncology»What’s to know about pheochromocytoma?

    What’s to know about pheochromocytoma?

    Ray JohnBy Ray JohnNovember 23, 2020Updated:November 24, 2020No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

    A rare tumor that develops in the adrenal glands is pheochromocytoma, or “pheo.” It affects adrenaline production and can contribute to high blood pressure and other health issues. It is usually benign.

    However, pheochromocytoma can be cancerous in around 3–13 percent of cases. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body in such cases.

    Most mild cases include one adrenal gland only, although both may be affected by the disease. Two small endocrine glands that reside above the kidneys are the adrenal glands. They assist in the development and distribution of significant hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

    Adrenal hormones assist to regulate functions like:

    • heart rate and blood pressure
    • metabolism
    • blood sugar
    • stress and immune responses

    As a result, pheochromocytoma can affect a wide range of bodily functions.

    What is pheochromocytoma?

    A person with pheochromocytoma
    A person with pheochromocytoma may experience headaches, heart palpitations, and sweating.

    The adrenal glands in pheochromocytoma contain too much adrenaline, noradrenaline, or both.

    These hormones, like the fight-or-flight response, help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, and stress response.

    The body will reach a condition resembling chronically high stress when levels of these hormones are too high. The body will react as though it were constantly under stress.

    Pheochromocytomas are linked to paragangliomas, another form of tumor. These develop on the outside of the adrenal glands but in the same types of tissue. Both can result in adrenal hormone abnormalities.

    Symptoms

    Symptoms of pheochromocytoma differ from individual to individual. About 60 percent of individuals with this disorder experience high blood pressure, either chronic or intermittent.

    Some individuals experience consistent high blood pressure, while others may have high blood pressure episodes. This can occur from several times a day to twice a month.

    In episodes, other symptoms typically occur, with a distinct combination.

    The most common pheochromocytoma symptoms are:

    • headaches
    • heart palpitations
    • sweating

    Other symptoms that can occur during an episode or independently include:

    • nausea
    • stomach pain
    • weight loss
    • rapid heart rate
    • anxiety or a sense of doom
    • feeling shaky
    • being extremely pale
    • mood swings and irritability
    • high blood sugar

    Symptoms can be seconds or hours long. Over time, they begin to intensify and become more common as the tumour develops.

    Some persons, however, experience no symptoms. Only after they undergo an imaging examination for another disease will these individuals discover that they have pheochromocytoma.

    Adrenergic crisis

    The regular activity of the adrenal glands may be disrupted by pheochromocytoma. This can raise the likelihood of an adrenergic crisis that happens when the bloodstream enters bursts of adrenal hormones.

    An adrenergic crisis, both of which can be life threatening, can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

    Extremely high blood pressure and rapid heart rate are signs of an adrenergic crisis.

    Getting these symptoms does not mean a person certainly has pheochromocytoma, as they can occur with other conditions. However for diagnosis, anyone who notices these signs should see a physician.

    What causes hypertension? Find out more here.

    Causes

    Happy family
    People with a family history of pheochromocytoma could consider genetic testing.

    Doctors do not know what causes pheochromocytoma exactly. Many occur spontaneously, but in certain cases, genetic factors appear to play a role.

    According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, a person inherits the disorder in about 25–35 percent of cases.

    At the age of 20-50 years, it is most likely to occur, but at any age it can appear.

    An individual with pheochromocytoma-related genetic features may also have a higher risk of developing a number of other conditions, including:

    • von Hippel–Lindau syndrome
    • multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
    • neurofibromatosis type 1
    • Sturge–Weber syndrome

    For this reason, in order to assess the risk of other complications, a person diagnosed with pheochromocytoma should consider undergoing genetic testing.

    Triggers

    Episodes can occur at any moment, but they can also be caused by certain life events.

    Possible triggers include:

    • straining the body during hard physical activity or childbirth
    • undergoing a surgery or procedure that involves anesthesia
    • high levels of emotional or physical stress

    Symptoms can also trigger a compound called tyramine. Fermented or aged foods, such as red wine, chocolate, and some cheeses, contain tyramine.

    Some medications can also cause symptoms in some individuals. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for instance, have been known to cause symptoms as a treatment alternative for depression and other mental health problems.

    Diagnosis

    It can be hard to diagnose pheochromocytoma, since it is rare and affects multiple individuals in various ways.

    To rule out or confirm pheochromocytoma, a person with either of the following should undergo testing:

    • episodes of high blood pressure or constant high blood pressure
    • heart palpitations, sweating, headaches, or other symptoms
    • an incidental adrenal mass

    Tests

    Checking for key markers of the condition can help with a number of tests. For instance:

    Blood or urine tests: These can show whether a person’s body contains unusually high levels of adrenaline or noradrenaline.

    Imaging tests: A CT or MRI scan of the adrenal glands can confirm that a tumor is present. In imaging tests, pheochromocytomas often have a distinctive appearance.

    Genetic testing: If investigations confirm a tumor, genetic testing may be recommended by a doctor. This can show whether the individual has a mutation in the gene that increases the risk of this and other tumors. They may also recommend screening for family members if a gene mutation is present.

    Treatment

    Surgery for pheochromocytoma aims to remove the tumor.
    Surgery for pheochromocytoma aims to remove the tumor.

    Usually, a doctor would recommend surgically removing the tumor. Laparoscopic surgery, which requires only small incisions, is mostly opted for by surgeons.

    Just one adrenal gland is normally affected by pheochromocytoma. Therefore a surgeon will remove the entire gland because the remaining gland will produce enough hormones for the survival of the body.

    The surgeon can attempt to remove the tumor tissue only if tumors arise in both glands, leaving a portion of the glands intact. They will have to remove both adrenal glands if this is not feasible.

    If both adrenal glands are removed by the surgeon, the body will no longer be able to produce adrenal hormones. To help replace these hormones, the person will need to take steroids.

    Changes in blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat during surgery can lead to complications. The person may need to take medicine for several days before the surgery to balance their heart rate and reduce their blood pressure.

    Pheochromocytomas are mostly benign. The symptoms will normally go away after surgery.

    Malignant tumors

    However in some situations, the person may have a malignant tumor that may recur at distant sites, typically the lungs, bones, or liver.

    If the tumor is malignant, options for therapy include:

    • iodine isotopes
    • radiation therapy
    • surgery
    • chemotherapy

    Addison’s disease also affects the adrenal glands. Learn more here.

    Complications

    Pheochromocytomas are mostly benign. However they may contribute to complications without treatment.

    Possible complications include:

    • heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
    • a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
    • bleeding in the brain (cerebral hemorrhage)
    • a buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)

    An individual may also have high, hard-to-control blood pressure.

    Outlook

    Pheochromocytoma is unusual and is typically not cancerous. It can however, lead to severe complications without treatment.

    Typically, removing the tumor would cause the symptoms to go away. However since certain pheochromocytomas may recur, a physician can prescribe lifelong follow-up.

    Related Posts

    All You need to know About Tea Leoni and Skin Cancer

    September 2, 2023

    Does Sleeping Naked Increase Testosterone?

    August 19, 2023

    Can You Snort Melatonin? Explained

    August 9, 2023

    Comments are closed.

    Latest Posts

    Medicare for Seniors: Navigating Healthcare in Your Golden Years

    September 22, 2023

    How Long After Gas-x Can You Drink Alcohol?

    September 19, 2023

    Can I Eat Bananas With Ciprofloxacin?

    September 18, 2023

    Does Bactrim Treat Tooth Infections?

    September 18, 2023

    Does Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream Lighten Skin ?

    September 18, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    NCCMED serves as a reliable online health and fitness magazine, offering Nigerians essential information to support their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. This platform acts as a valuable resource, equipping individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their well-being.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    Top Insights

    Wisdom Teeth: Things you should know

    August 11, 2021

    Eating nuts on a daily basis may help you live longer

    July 14, 2021

    COVID-19: Those that are at high risk

    March 6, 2020

    Subscribe to Updates

    Stay informed about the latest changes in medical science and learn about new developments in the health field.

    © 2023 NccMed.Com.
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact us
    • Disclaimer
    • About Us

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.