[Symptoms and endocrinologic features of catecholamine-secreting tumors. Results in 106 consecutive patients]

The clinical and endocrinological features in 106 patients (40 men, 66 women, mean age 48 +/- 14.3 years) treated between 1973 and 1993 for proven catecholamine-secreting tumours (phaeochromocytoma: n = 88, paraganglioma: n = 10, adrenal medullary hyperplasia: n = 8) were analysed. The most frequent symptoms were palpitations (68%), severe sweating (53%) and headache (42%). 10% of patients were symptom-free. 58% of patients had consistently raised blood pressure, and 20% of patients suffered paroxysmal blood pressure crises. However, 22% of patients did not have hypertension. Raised urinary catecholamines were found in more than 95% of cases; MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scintigrams were abnormal in more than 85% of cases. Patients with catecholamine-secreting tumours do not always have "classical" features. The high sensitivity of properly performed catecholamine measurement on plasma and urine has made dangerous stimulation and suppression tests obsolete.