[Familial pheocromocytoma. Report of 4 families]

Twelve patients with pheochromocytomas were found in members of 4 families in the recent 25 years. Nine of them were treated and confirmed surgically. Follow-up showed that 50% of the members were found to suffer from pheochromocytomas. Six of the 9 patients had bilateral and multiple tumors. The tumors developed in the adrenal glands and benign in nature. Three of the 12 patients were associated with thyroid tumors. Peripheral leukocyte chromosomes were studied in two families. Chromosomal analysis showed no evidence of marker on the 15th chromosomal pair. These findings were not consistent with the previous results. Tumor tissue contents of catecholamine were determined in 4 familial tumors and 14 sporadic pheochromocytomas. Familial pheochromocytomas tissue contained significantly higher norepinephrine and epinephrine than the sporadic tumors.