Mortality associated with pheochromocytoma in a large Swedish cohort

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to report the risk of death in a national cohort of patients with aPC (adrenal PC) and their risk of developing a second tumour.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Registry, 481 patients (222 men and 259 women) with aPC in Sweden (1958-1997) were identified. Autopsy-based diagnoses were excluded. As control group the entire Swedish population was used and the risk of death in patients after diagnosis of aPC was compared with the normal risk taking age, sex and calendar year into account. The risk for a second tumour disease after diagnosis of aPC was also calculated.

Results: Patients with aPC had an increased tumour-related mortality after diagnosis of aPC. For both men and women this mortality was four times higher than for controls. Liver/biliary tract and CNS tumours in men; and malignant melanoma and uterine cervical cancer in women were significantly over-represented in the cohort of patients with aPC.

Conclusion: Patients with aPC run an increased risk of developing additional cancers. Surveillance strategies may thus be necessary for these patients.