Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing tumors that arise from chromaffin cells, most commonly in the adrenal medulla, but also from chromaffin cells wherever else they might be found.
Since these tumors were described first by Fraenkel- in 1886, its diagnostic and therapeutic processes have improved day by day following the studies on the physiology and metabolism of the catecholamine.
These are very rare tumors; although in various series their incidence has beed estimated as high as 5. per cent, it is now generally agreed that the true incidence is a small fraction of I per cent of patients with hypertension. The importance of these tumors to the physician is disproportinate to their rarity. Because the clinical manifestations of this tumor may minic so faithfully those of some other diseases such as thyrotoxicosis, essential hypertension or emotional disturbance that the physician may be distracted for months, years or, in some cases, permanently from persuing the correct diagnosis. Untreated pheochromocytoma may be expected to result eventually in the death of the patient; incorrect treatment may either hasten death or cause permanent disability. On the other hand, the prompt implementation of correct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures usually results in complete cure.
We have experienced 4 cases of pheochromocytoma treated surgically in the Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center during the period between 1970 and May 1975 and we tried to review these rare and important tumors by observing clinically our 4 cases and reviewing literatures.
|