Pheochromocytoma: Symptoms and Diagnosis

Pheochromocytoma, as a rule, is found in the brain substance, less often in chromaffin tissue. Experts call it the most unexplored endocrine pathology to date. Modern medicine is difficult to explain the etiology and development of the disease. In order for a patient to be diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, the symptoms should be pronounced. It is known for sure that this disease is inherited and is rare: one person in ten thousand. And it should be noted that patients at high risk are patients suffering from high blood pressure.

Pheochromocytoma: Diagnosis

As a rule, the diagnosis is accompanied by certain difficulties, because the tumor does not produce anything and develops completely asymptomatically. Approximately in ten percent of cases, the neoplasm can develop into a malignant one, by letting metastases to the lymph nodes, the liver, even into the lungs and muscles. Symptomatics

If you do have a pheochromocytoma, the symptoms will be as follows: first, high blood pressure (it can be that constantly or periodically). Hypertension can be provoked by strong experiences, heavy physical exertion or simply the patient's reluctance to limit himself to eating. In addition, this disease is characterized by such symptoms as pulsating headache, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating. Patient's skin is pale, legs often cramp. It should be emphasized that if you have a pheochromocytoma, the symptoms completely disappear after the end of the attack. In any case, it is advisable to visit a specialist if you notice in yourself attacks of unreasonable anxiety, short-term faints, "hot flashes", similar to those experienced by women with menopause.

Complications

Less commonly, the patient is diagnosed with a complicated pheochromocytoma. Symptoms in this case resemble several diseases, among them cardiovascular, endocrine, gastric and mental. In particular, patients have acute cardiac insufficiency, unmotivated psychosis, elevated red blood cells, uncontrolled salivation and hyperglycemia. Among the clinical symptoms of pheochromocytoma, doctors call the presence of catecholamines in the urinary system and adrenal glands (these are substances produced by the tumor). After they were discovered, it is necessary to observe how the patient's pressure fluctuates. In general, control of cardiac activity is considered an important point in the diagnosis.

Treatment

The adrenal pheochromocytoma is usually eliminated by surgery, but before assigning a surgical intervention, the doctor must ensure that the patient's pressure is stabilized. For this, a-blockers are successfully used. Conservative treatment, in principle, is possible, but less effective, since it is mainly aimed at reducing the level of catecholamines in the body, which is fraught with serious problems with the stomach and even mental disorders.