PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA
Pheochromocytoma is a pathological condition in which there are benign tumor developments in or outside adrenal glands either one or both. Even though the condition is rare and asymptomatic at the beginning if left untreated it may produce serious effects including death.
Pathophysiologically the tumors are formed from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla either by mechanical over-stimulation such as frequent stress, anxiety, and tension or due to some pathological conditions.
Pathologically the tumors may stimulate overproduction of catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline which in turn produce high blood pressure, tachyarrhythmia, stress and other serious cardio and pulmonary vascular effects.
As the produced catecholamines by the tumor are usually metabolised within the chromaffin itself a test for the metabolites may give us a positive result rather than testing for the parent compounds.
Adrenalin is metabolized to metanephrine and noradrenaline to normetanephrine.
Adrenal glands are a pair of small pea-shaped endocrines or ductless glands each one situated at the top of the two kidneys on either sides. They produce important hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and steroid-like hydrocortisone and cortisol.
Adrenal hormones help balance body functions such as
1.Heart Rate
2.Blood Pressure
3.Metabolism
4.Blood Glucose
5.Stress
6.Immunity
Adrenal glands are a pair of small pea-shaped endocrines or ductless glands each one situated at the top of the two kidneys on either sides. They produce important hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and steroid-like hydrocortisone and cortisol.
Adrenal hormones help balance body functions such as
1.Heart Rate
2.Blood Pressure
3.Metabolism
4.Blood Glucose
5.Stress
6.Immunity
Symptoms
1)Skin reactions
2)Elevated heart rate
3.Elevated B.P.
4)Panic and anxiety
5)High sweating
6)Head pain
7) Pallor
8)Weight Loss
9)Elevated Glucose Level due to lipolysis
The main cause of the disease is genetic.
10.Elevated sweating
11)Tremor
12)Sudden Headaches
10.Elevated sweating
11)Tremor
12)Sudden Headaches
Diagnoses
1)By direct measurements of catecholamines in blood plasma or in a 24-hour collection of urine
2)CT or MRI scans of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. This can help to localize the tumor
Treatments
1. The best treatment is to remove the tumors
this requires a non invasive laparoscopic surgeries with small short recovery incisions.
2. In case if the tumor cannot be removed the doctor may remove the entire affected gland as one gland is sufficient for body control.
3. In rare cases if both the glands are completely affected then complications begin as both the glands are to be removed and the patient should be subjected to have entire hormone replacement therapy.
