[Topical diagnosis of chromaffin tumors based on the catecholamine content of selected plasma specimens]

The results of the clinical study are presented, concerning the use of a comparatively new method for the topical diagnosis of the chromaffine tissue tumors. The technique is based on the determination of the catecholamine content in several blood plasma samples, collected from different regions of the vena cava inferior and its flows. Twenty patients with suspected hormonal-active tumor of the chromaffine tissue were examined. Pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal was found in 5 patients and of the right one in 1 subject; bilateral adrenal tumors were revealed in 2 patients and extraadrenal chromaffinomas in 2 persons on the ground of the increased local blood catecholamine content in the circulatory channel regions studied.