The 6 Main Causes of Pheochromocytoma

A  Pheochromocytoma can occur in men or women at any age, but is most common in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Some people who develop Pheochromocytoma  have a rare inherited condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia that makes them prone to tumors in the thyroid glands, parathyroid and adrenal.

A  pheochromocytoma  can also develop in people who have von Hippel-Lindau disease and in those who have neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen disease) or a number of other genetic disorders. Almost 50% of people who have pocochromocytomas are likely to have a genetic or familial disease such as these. So, check now  The 6 Main Causes of Pheochromocytoma:

Causes of Pheochromocytoma:  Doctors don’t know why most of these tumors form. About 30%, however, seem to run in families. These are more likely to be cancerous than those that appear randomly. They can spread to other parts of your body, including your liver, lungs, or bones. Tumors are more common in people with inherited disorders or conditions, including:

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type II
• Von Hippel-Lindau disease
• Hereditary paraganglioma syndrome
• Von Hippel-Lindau disease, a condition where cysts and tumors grow in the central nervous system, kidneys, adrenal glands , or other areas of the body
• Type 1 neurofibromatosis, development of skin and optic nerve tumors
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), a form of thyroid cancer that develops in conjunction with Pheochromocytoma

Symptoms of Pheochromocytoma:  A  Pheochromocytoma  can be quite small. However, even a small Pheochromocytoma  can produce large amounts of potent catecholamines. Catecholamines are hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine), norepinephrine, and dopamine that tend to significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate and cause other symptoms usually associated with life-threatening situations.

The most prominent sign of a pheochromocytoma  is high blood pressure, which can be very serious. However, only about 1 in 1000 people with high blood pressure have a pheochromocytoma . The main symptoms of Pheochromocytoma  include:

• severe headache
• excessive sweat
• fast breathing
• Cold and damp skin
• Chest and stomach pain
• nausea and vomiting
• vision disorders
• tingling fingers
• Constipation
• A strange sense of impending doom

When these symptoms appear suddenly and with force, they can feel like a panic attack. In half of those affected, symptoms will come and go, sometimes triggered by pressure on the tumor, massage, drugs (especially anesthesia and beta-blockers), emotional trauma, and, on rare occasions, the simple act of urinating. However, many people may experience these symptoms as manifestations of an anxiety state rather than a glandular disorder.

Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma:  Many people who have Pheochromocytoma  are never diagnosed because the symptoms are so similar to other conditions. The main diagnoses of  Pheochromocytoma  include:

• Blood and urine tests
• CT scan or MRI

Doctors may not suspect a pheochromocytoma , because nearly half of people have no symptoms other than persistent high blood pressure. However, when high blood pressure occurs in a young person, comes and goes, or accompanies other symptoms of Pheochromocytoma , doctors may order certain laboratory tests.

For example, the level of certain catecholamines or products created when these catecholamines are broken down can be measured in blood or urine samples. Due to high blood pressure and other symptoms, doctors may prescribe a beta-blocker before they know the cause is a pheochromocytoma . Beta-blockers can make blood pressure worse in people with Pheochromocytoma . This paradoxical reaction often makes the diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma clear .

If the level of catecholamines is high, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help locate the Pheochromocytoma . A test with injected radioactive chemicals that tend to accumulate in Pheochromocytoma  may also be helpful. A scan is then done to see where the radioactive chemicals are. Genetic tests may be done, especially if doctors suspect a genetic disorder.

Pheochromocytoma Treatments:  The main treatments for  Pheochromocytoma include:

• Surgery to remove the tumor
• Medicines to control blood pressure.

Usually, the best treatment is to remove the Pheochromocytoma . Surgery is often delayed, however, until doctors can control the tumor’s catecholamine secretion with drugs, as having high levels of catecholamines can be dangerous during surgery. Phenoxybenzamine or a similar drug is usually given to stop the hormonal action.

Once this step is accomplished, a beta blocker can be safely administered to control other symptoms. If the pheochromocytoma  is cancerous and has spread, chemotherapy rarely cures the tumor. Newer chemotherapy drugs such as temozolomide and sunitinib appear to help slow tumor growth.

Treatment with a radioisotope known as metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) that targets tumor tissue can also be highly effective. The dangerous effects of excess catecholamines secreted by the tumor can almost always be blocked by continuing to take phenoxybenzamine or a similar drug and beta-blockers.