[Problems posed by asymptomatic pheochromocytoma and malignant tumors of the adrenal medulla]

The authors analyse a group of 38 patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, in particular the topics of atypical symptomatology and malignancy. Three patients did not suffer from any subjective symptoms or other signs of pheochromocytoma ("incidentalomas"). Another three patients, although having giant tumours, only complained of atypical symptoms. Signs suspicious of malignancy were detected in 6 out of 38 patients. The authors recommend a practical approach to modern diagnostic and imaging tools for early primary diagnosis and for the early diagnosis of local recurrence and distant metastases.