Pheochromocytoma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that grows from cells called chromaffin cells. These cells produce hormones needed for the body and are found in the adrenal glands.
Pheochromocytomas are benign tumors of the chromaffin tissues arising from the adrenal glands or sympathetic ganglia along the spinal column. They secrete catecholamine like noradrenalin and adrenaline
- heavy sweating
- a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- high blood pressure
- a pale face
- feeling of being sick
- feeling anxious or panicky
- shakiness (tremor)
- paroxysmal hypertension
- flustering (agitation)
- chest discomfort
- Associated with the 5 H’s— hypertension, headache, hyperhidrosis, hypermetabolism and hyperglycemia,
- Urinary catecholamine are direct and conclusive tests
- Serum epinephrine and norepinephrine levels will be elevated.
- Must avoid coffee, tea, bananas, chocolate, vanilla and ASA, nicotine, amphetamines, decongestants before 24h urine testing
- Clonidine suppression test— in normal individual, would block catecholamine release
- Imaging studies i.e CT Scan and MRI
How the tumour affects the adrenal glands
The adrenal glands make the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are released into the bloodstream when needed. These hormones control heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism (the chemical processes that keep your organs working).
A phaeochromocytoma can cause the adrenal glands to produce too much of these hormones, which often results in problems such as heart palpitations and high blood pressure.
Treating a phaeochromocytoma
Surgery to remove the phaeochromocytoma is the treatment of choice since most of the surgeries are successful
- Alpha blockers (and in some cases beta blockers) for several weeks before the operation. They block the effects of the excess hormones on the body and stabilize your heart rate and blood pressure.
The operation is carried out may include
- “keyhole” (laparoscopic) surgery – a number of small cuts (incisions) are made and fine instruments are passed through these to remove the tumour; this is the most common type of surgery for phaeochromocytomas
- open surgery – a single larger incision is made in the skin to access and remove the tumour
The incisions will usually be made in your tummy (abdomen).
If phaeochromocytoma is cancerous, chemotherapy or radiotherapy in addition to surgery.
As given to patients from surgery, and according to the treatment given.
Pheochromocytoma ni aina ya uvimbe wa neuroendocrine ambao hukua kutoka kwa seli zinazoitwa seli za chromaffin. Chembe hizo hutokeza homoni zinazohitajiwa na mwili na zinapatikana katika tezi za adrenal. Pheochromocytomas ni uvimbe wa aina ya benign wa tishu za chromaffin zinazotokana na tezi za adrenal au ganglia za hisia kando ya safu ya uti wa mgongo. Catecholamine ni aina ya adrenaline na noradrenaline, ambayo huondolewa katika damu wakati wa kupumua, na inaweza kusababisha maumivu ya moyo, maumivu ya kichwa, hyperhidrosis, hypermetabolism na hyperglycemia. - Ni lazima kuepuka kahawa, chai, ndizi, chokoleti, vanilla na ASA, nikotini, amphetamines, decongestants kabla ya mtihani wa mkojo wa 24h - Mtihani wa kukandamiza clonidine katika mtu wa kawaida, ingezuia kutolewa kwa catecholamine - Uchunguzi wa picha yaani CT Scan na MRI Jinsi uvimbe unavyoathiri tezi za adrenal Tezi za adrenal hufanya homoni adrenaline na noradrenaline, ambazo hutolewa katika mtiririko wa damu wakati inahitajika. Hormoni hizi husimamia msukumo wa moyo, shinikizo la damu, na kimetaboliki (mchakato wa kemikali unaofanya viungo vyako vifanye kazi). Acheochromocytoma inaweza kusababisha tezi za adrenal kutengeneza homoni nyingi sana, ambayo mara nyingi husababisha matatizo kama vile moyo kugonga na shinikizo la damu. Upasuaji wa kuondoa pheochromocytoma ni matibabu ya chaguo tangu upasuaji mwingi unafanikiwa - Alpha blockers (na katika baadhi ya kesi beta blockers) kwa wiki kadhaa kabla ya operesheni. Huzuia athari za homoni za ziada kwenye mwili na kudumisha kasi ya moyo na shinikizo la damu. Upasuaji wa laparoscopic (upasuaji wa keyhole) ni aina ya upasuaji wa kawaida wa faecal-chromosome, ambao hufanywa katika tumbo la tumbo. Ikiwa pheochromocytoma ni kansa, tiba ya kemikali au tiba ya mnururisho pamoja na upasuaji. Kama ilivyo kwa wagonjwa kutoka kwa upasuaji, na kulingana na matibabu yaliyopewa.