title: [Current clinical problems of pheochromocytoma].
abstract: The diagnostic problem of pheochromocytomas raises two questions: should all hypertensives be routinely investigated for this condition, and what is the best diagnostic method? As this is a rare condition, systematic screening gives a low return; considering the large number of hypertensive patients, it is also costly. On the other hand, as systematic autopsy studies have shown, the missed diagnosis can be serious (especially during pregnancy or surgery). Screening for this condition is proposed when the clinical features are suggestive, in pregnancy, when surgery is undertaken in a hypertensive patient and in all cases of method is still a matter of controversy: urinary hormonal levels (especially metanephrine levels) are supported by some workers, whilst serum catecholamine levels are supported by others. In any case, pharmacodynamic tests should only be used when these two methods are inconclusive. The long term prognosis of operated pheochromocytoma is less favourable then used to be thought: a certain number have persistent benign hypertension which may require treatment and which may become malignant at a later date. Adrenal medullary hyperplasia is a clinical entity which should be recognised.
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000652:urine; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D008676:Metanephrine; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid
vernacular_title: Problèmes cliniques actuels du phéochromocytome.