[Adrenal gland pheochromocytomas. Apropos of 35 operated patients]

Thirty-five patients (20 female and 15 male, mean age = 47 years) operated on for an adrenal pheochromocytoma were reviewed. Catecholamine excessive production was symptomatic in 33 patients (94%). Urinary excretion of vanyl-mandelic acid, catecholamines and metanephrine was abnormal in 84%, 75% and 90% of cases, respectively. Tumor was presumed benign (no metastasis) in 31 cases. Sensitivity of CT scan (n = 35) and magnetic resonance imaging (n = 13) was 100%. Meta-iodo-benzylguanidine scan (n = 19) always recognized the main tumor, but did not visualize 1 second tumor in 1 patient and 1 metastasis in 1 other patient. An anterior intraperitoneal approach was performed in all cases. Operative mortality rate was 5.7%. In the last 15 patients, systematic preoperative treatment by prazosine did not lead to fall in rates of peroperative arrythmia and hemodynamic disorders. Twenty-two of 25 (88%) hypertensive patients remained normotensive without medication postoperatively. The risk of undiagnosed pheochromocytoma and problems in resection of large right-sided tumors are discussed.