SURGICAL CONCEPT IN SPORADIC AND FAMILIAL PHEOCHROMOCYTOMAS

A retrospective analysis of 61 patients operated upon sporadic and fam ilial pheochromocytomas demonstrates the changes in diagnosis and ther apy. Familial pheochromocytomas make up for 28 % of all patients and i n 13 % tumor malignancy was diagnosed, Patients had suffered from endo crine crises in 21 % preoperatively but only in 3 % intra- and postope ratively. CT was confirmed to visualize more tumors than US or MIBG (> 90 %) preoperatively. Operative strategy was based on tumor-size and t umor-localization but increasing importance of endoscopic procedures i s conceded, Postoperative complications are rare (infection 8 %, Addis on's crisis 5 %) and life threatening complications (bleeding, post op death) as well as tumor persistence or recurrence almost exclusively occur in patients with malignant disease, Altogether the main changes are the early diagnosis of especially familial disease and the use of endoscopic procedures in the treatment of patients with small benign p heochromocytomas.