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. 2025:2891:257-268.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4334-1_14.

Analysis of Urinary Metanephrines Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Marlene N Thaitumu  1   2 , Elizabeth L Frank  3
Affiliations

Analysis of Urinary Metanephrines Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Marlene N Thaitumu et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2025.

Abstract

Metanephrines (metanephrine [MN] and normetanephrine [NMN]) are O-methylated metabolites derived from the catecholamines, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, respectively. High concentrations of metanephrines have been observed in individuals with pheochromocytoma, a neuroendocrine tumor. Measurement of metanephrines in urine is used to screen for the tumor. Analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is recommended due to the high sensitivity, specificity, and throughput of the technique. Herein, we describe an optimized LC-MS/MS assay for the analysis of urinary metanephrines.

Keywords: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; Metanephrines; Pheochromocytoma.

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