Pheochromocytoma

Monica Giles, M.D., Douglas Ball, M.D.

DEFINITION

  • Pheochromocytoma is a rare but potentially life-threatening cause of secondary diabetes
  • Pheochromoctyomas are catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumors that arise from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglia.[6]
  • Extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue tumors are referred to as paragangliomas or extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas.[6]
  • 80-85% of pheochromocytomas originate from the adrenal medulla, and 15-20% arise from paragangliomas. [6][17]

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Last updated: July 7, 2020