[Treatment of pheochromocytoma: changes in diagnosis and therapy]

Evident progress has been made in the treatment of pheochromocytoma. The results of hormone analysis became very accurate, the method for tumor localisation are non invasive and safe: with 131-I-MIBG, ultrasonography and CT-scan an exact preoperative localisation is possible without serious risks. Patients are prepared for the operation with alpha- and beta-blocking agents. Modern methods of anaesthesia with continuous monitoring of blood pressure, pulmonary pressure and cardiac output and a standardized operative procedure are essential. From 1965 to 1987 71 patients with a total of 87 catecholamine producing tumors have been operated. In all cases a transabdominal access was chosen. Biadrenal tumors were removed in 8 patients, multiple (7) tumors in 2 patients. The comparison of the 2 time intervals 1965 to 1976 and 1977 to 1987 showed a significant decrease of serious intra- and postoperative complications. Surgical specimens of 36 patients with pheochromocytoma were used for immunohistologic evaluation. Marked positivity was found in 44% of cases for calcitonin. The reaction for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was positive in 28% of cases. Somatostatin was not detected in any case, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in all cases. 6 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma were treated with high doses of 131-I-MIBG, 4 other patients received a combined chemotherapy.