PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA - THE CATECHOLAMINE DEPENDENT HYPERTENSION

Pheochromocytoma is a unique type of hypertension caused by excessive production of catecholamines by the chromaffin tumor, Pheochromocytoma , a potentially life-threatening disease, is a rare cause of hypertens ion. The incidence varies from 0.1 to 0.8% of hypertensive population. The author's experience is based on 138 patients treated in one insti tution from 1956 to 1995. Hormonal activity of pheochromocytoma varies considerably, influencing the pattern, of blood pressure and the clin ical symptoms, It is emphasized that different other humoral mechanism s may play a role in the pathophysiology of this type of endocrine hyp ertension. Biochemical tests and non-invasive localizing methods are e ssential for the definite diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. A great progr ess has been made in this respect during the last three decades. Surgi cal removal of the tumor is the only definite therapy with low morbidi ty and mortality.