Catecholamine measurements in phaeochromocytoma: a review

The early diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma by measurement of catecholamines or their metabolites is important, since it brings the prospect of permanent cure to a small but significant proportion of the hypertensive population. The development of sensitive and specific methods for the analysis of catecholamines has led to the increased use of such measurements in the biochemical diagnosis and localisation of this rare tumour.