Is it serious to have pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma can be said to be a relatively serious disease. Although more than 90% of them are benign tumors, once patients find themselves affected by these diseases, they should pay attention to the doctor's treatment advice and not take medication blindly.

1. More than 90% of pheochromocytomas are benign tumors. The tumor is brown-yellow when cut, has rich blood vessels, very little interstitial tissue, and often bleeds. The tumor cells are large, irregular polygons, and have many granules in the cytoplasm; the cells can be stained by chromium salts, so they are called pheochromocytoma. According to statistics, 80% to 90% of pheochromocytomas occur in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, of which about 90% are unilateral single lesions.

2. Multiple tumors, including those occurring in both adrenal glands, account for about 10%. About 10% of pheochromocytomas originate outside the adrenal glands; this statistic in China is slightly higher. Malignant pheochromocytoma accounts for about 5% to 10% and can cause metastasis to lymph nodes, liver, bones, lungs, etc. A small number of pheochromocytomas may also present with multiple subcutaneous neurofibromas, of which approximately 25% are linked to Hippel-Lindau syndrome.

3. Pheochromocytoma is also the main lesion of multiple endocrine neoplasia type Ⅱ (MENⅡ). MENⅡ is familial and autosomal dominant, accounting for about 5% to 10% of pheochromocytoma cases. Patients with bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma should be especially alert to the presence of MENⅡ. Pheochromocytomas can autonomously secrete catecholamines, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

4. Epinephrine and norepinephrine can act on adrenergic receptors, such as α and β receptors, affecting corresponding tissues and organs and causing a series of clinical manifestations. All pathophysiological bases of pheochromocytoma patients are directly related to this secretory function of the tumor.