Clinical evaluation and treatment of phaeochromocytoma

Abstract

Phaeochromocytoma and extra adrenal paraganglioma are rare neuroendocrine tumours and have the potential to secrete adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine causing a myriad of clinical symptoms. Prompt diagnosis is essential for clinicians and requires a multidisciplinary specialist approach for the clinical and laboratory investigation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients. This paper is an integrated review of the clinical and laboratory evaluation and treatment of patients suspected to have phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma, highlighting recent developments and best practices from recent published clinical guidelines.

Keywords: 3-methoxytyramine; Phaeochromocytoma; metadrenaline; normetadrenaline; paraganglioma.