Diagnosis and treatment of phaeochromocytoma

Hypertension due to a phaeochromocytoma is a rare but curable disease. The yearly incidence of phaeochromocytoma is about 5 per million inhabitants. Diagnosis can be based on urinary catecholamines in most patients but plasma catecholamines are sometimes helpful. Localization of the tumour is usually obtained by computerised tomography. Invasive investigations and operation are not undertaken before alpha-receptor blockade has been instituted. An extraperitoneal approach to the adrenals is preferred. More than 90% of patients are cured.