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Pheochromocytoma - Symptom

Alternative Names

Chromaffin tumors; Paraganglionoma

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain
Chest pain
Flushing
Increased appetite
Irritability
Nervousness
Palpitations
Rapid heart rate
Severe headache
Sweating
Weight loss

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

There may be an attack of the symptoms listed above (paroxysm). It may occur at unpredictable intervals (sporadic). The paroxysms may increase in frequency, length, and severity as the tumor grows.

Signs and tests:

An examination of vital signs can show high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and fever when taken during an attack of symptoms. These signs can be normal at other times.

Tests include:

Endocrine glands

Adrenal metastases, CT scan

Adrenal Tumor - CT

Adrenal gland hormone secretion

Reviewed last on: 9/4/2008
Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009.

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