CLINICAL AND ENDOCRINOLOGIC FEATURES IN C ATECHOLAMINE-SECRETING TUMORS - RESULTS IN 106 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

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, parag anglioma: 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 patient s had consistently raised blood pressure, and 20% of patients suffered paroxysmal blood pressure crises. However, 22% of patients did not ha ve hypertension. Raised urinary catecholamines were found in more than 95% of cases; MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scintigrams were abnorma l in more than 85% of cases. - Patients with catecholamine-secreting t umours do not always have >>classical<< features. The high sensitivity of properly performed catecholamine measurement on plasma and urine h as made dangerous stimulation and suppression tests obsolete.