CLINICAL ASPECTS AND ENDOCRINE DIAGNOSIS OF PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing tumors, representing one of the most important causes of secondary hypertension. The classific ation of these tumors considers both sporadic and familial forms, intr a- and extra- adrenal localization as well as the dignity. Familial ph eochromocytomas are primarily seen under the conditions of multiple en docrine neoplasia, von Hippel-Lindau disease or neurofibromatosis type 1. The list of clinical symptoms includes hypertension, which can be both continuous or intermittent, headache, tachycardia and sweating. I t is most important to standardize the pre-analytical procedures, i.e. control for sampling conditions and adequate choice of parameters in plasma or urine. For screening sensitive methods will be employed (fre e catecholamines in 24h-urine) and for confirmation of the diagnosis, specific procedures are performed (Clonidine test, MIBG-scintigraphy). The endocrine-logical and biochemical procedures are completed by mol ecular genetic techniques in familial pheochromocytoma.