[Catecholamine-producing tumors]

We report 93 patients with catecholamine producing tumors that were analyzed at the Hormone Laboratory of the Institute of Cardiology. They are 75 pheochromocytoma patients and 18 children with neuroblastoma. Fluorimetric methods were used to measure urinary and plasma catecholamines on neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma patients. Dopamine high excretion (mean value 2889 micrograms/24 hs), was constantly observed in the neuroblastoma children as were adrenaline and noradrenaline in the benign and malignant pheochromocytoma patients. The mean values for the malignant tumours were 53 for adrenaline and 1436 micrograms/24 hs for noradrenaline. Structural and biochemical differences of the catecholamine producing tumours are reflected on the clinical manifestations which are observed in the patients bearing such neoplasms.