title: [Atypical pheochromocytoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve the diagnosis and treatment of atypical pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  51 cases of pheochromocytoma were treated from July 1985 to August 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 51 cases, 19 were atypical, and were characterized by silent tumor, pheochromocytoma in pregnancy, bilateral tumor, extraadrenal tumor, malignant tumor, and recurrent tumor. Open operation was performed for all kinds of cases in accordance with their special characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical extirpation is the only means for the treatment of atypical pheochromocytoma and meticulous perioperative management is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery