Library · Neoplasm
Pheochromocytoma
Make it clearer
A pheochromocytoma is a tumor that arises in the adrenal gland, the one that sits on top of the kidney, and more precisely in its medulla, the region at the center of that gland. That's where the chromaffin cells live, the cells in charge of making the signals the body uses to respond to stress. Some of these tumors overproduce and release too many catecholamines, which are exactly those chemical signals: adrenaline and noradrenaline. That surge can throw off blood pressure and heart rate, the speed at which the heart beats.
The puzzling thing about a pheochromocytoma is that it doesn't always behave the same way. Sometimes the secretion comes in episodes, like an alarm that goes off on its own for a while and then falls silent; sometimes it's constant, with no letup; and sometimes there are no symptoms at all and the tumor turns up incidentally, meaning by chance, while someone was looking at something else.
In brief
A pheochromocytoma starts in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, the inner part of the gland that sits on top of the kidney. These cells produce stress-response signals.
Some of these tumors release too many catecholamines, the chemical stress signals such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, which can affect blood pressure and heart rate.
Hormone release and symptoms can come and go, stay steady, or be absent when the tumor is found by chance.
Sources (2)
- National Cancer InstitutePheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient VersionPublished
- National Cancer InstitutePheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional VersionPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated