Catecholamine secretion and ploidy in phaeochromocytoma

The aim was to evaluate 24 hr urine catecholamine, HMMA and HVA excretion in relation to ploidy in phaeochromocytoma. Data from five diploid and nine tetraploid tumours showed a significant reduction in urine noradrenaline (p = 0.02) and HMMA (p = 0.03) in diploid tumours but no difference in adrenaline, dopamine and HVA excretion using the Mann-Whitney U test. None of the patients showed recurrence after a mean of 5.7 years of follow up. A review of published ploidy studies in phaeochromocytoma shows that malignancy is more than six times more common in non-diploid tumours but diploidy does not equate with benignity. No biochemical marker is a reliable index of malignancy. All patients should undergo lifetime review for recurrence.