A pheochromocytoma is a rare kind of tumor. The tumor usually occurs in one or both adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys. Sometimes it occurs in the thyroid gland or below the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and helps you breathe). You can have more than 1 tumor.
The tumor makes a substance that increases blood pressure. The high blood pressure can cause strokes, sudden death, heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythm, or heart failure.
The tumor may not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
Your healthcare provider may suspect you have the tumor if you:
Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and examine you. Tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. The most common tests are:
Some medicines can affect the results of some of these tests. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including nonprescription drugs.
There are 3 ways to treat the tumor:
Surgery to remove all or parts of the thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands is the most common treatment. To prepare for surgery, you will be treated for 7 or more days with medicines that block the bad effects of the substance made by the tumor. You may be in the hospital for a week or two. Your healthcare provider will schedule checkups for several months after the surgery. You may need to take medicines to replace the hormones made by the glands that were removed.
A few pheochromocytomas are cancerous. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body with a needle in the vein or muscle.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to shrink tumors.
Most people feel better after the tumor is removed. However, sometimes the tumor comes back. Make sure you keep follow-up checkups with your healthcare provider for long-term monitoring with lab tests.
