Surgical management of pheochromocytoma

The early diagnosis and safe treatment of pheochromocytoma have become possible due to advances in preoperative imaging techniques and endocrine tests, as well as improvements in the control of blood pressure and hemodynamics before and during the operation using various drugs. This article outlines the use of meticulous surgical technique via various approaches for open surgery and gives a step-by-step description of the methods for laparoscopic surgery. Such techniques have made the excision of pheochromocytoma safe and easy, allowing hypertension to be surgically cured in these patients. Thus, pheochromocytoma is less likely to be fatal than before. However. it is necessary to follow these patients for a long period postoperatively because it is often difficult to distinguish benign from malignant tumors and recurrence has been reported even more than ten years postoperatively.