title: Dopamine excess in patients with head and neck paragangliomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of excess dopamine in relation to clinical symptoms and nuclear imaging in head and neck paraganglioma (PGL) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six consecutive patients with head and neck PGLs, evaluated between 1993 and 2009, were included. Clinical symptoms, dopamine excess (urinary 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) or dopamine and/or plasma dopamine or 3-MT) and (nor)epinephrine excess (urinary (nor)metanephrine) as well as (111)In-octreotide and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanide (MIBG) scintigraphy were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dopamine excess was found in seven patients (19.4%), but was unrelated to clinical signs and symptoms. Excretion of other catecholamines was unremarkable, except in one patient with adrenal pheochromocytoma. (123)I-MIBG uptake (present in 36.1% of patients) was associated with dopamine excess (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dopamine excess is present in a considerable percentage of patients with head and neck PGL, and its measurement may be useful in follow-up. Measurement of other catecholamines is necessary to rule out co-existent pheochromocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands, a.n.a.van.der.horst@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Anouk N A
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Van Der Horst-Schrivers
authors.forename: Thamara E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Osinga
authors.forename: Ido P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Kema
authors.forename: Bernard F A M
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Van Der Laan
authors.forename: Robin P F
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dullaart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000652:urine; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine; C001746:3-methoxytyramine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine