title: [Symptoms and endocrinologic features of catecholamine-secreting tumors. Results in 106 consecutive patients].
abstract: The clinical and endocrinological features in 106 patients (40 men, 66 women, mean age 48 +/- 14.3 years) treated between 1973 and 1993 for proven catecholamine-secreting tumours (phaeochromocytoma: n = 88, paraganglioma: n = 10, adrenal medullary hyperplasia: n = 8) were analysed. The most frequent symptoms were palpitations (68%), severe sweating (53%) and headache (42%). 10% of patients were symptom-free. 58% of patients had consistently raised blood pressure, and 20% of patients suffered paroxysmal blood pressure crises. However, 22% of patients did not have hypertension. Raised urinary catecholamines were found in more than 95% of cases; MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scintigrams were abnormal in more than 85% of cases. Patients with catecholamine-secreting tumours do not always have "classical" features. The high sensitivity of properly performed catecholamine measurement on plasma and urine has made dangerous stimulation and suppression tests obsolete.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Endokrinologie, Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schürmeyer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engeroff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von zur Mühlen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dralle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009377:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines
vernacular_title: Symptomatik und endokrinologische Befunde bei katecholamin-sezernierenden Tumoren. Ergebnisse bei 106 konsekutiven Patienten.