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Pheochromocytoma Treatment (PDQ®)
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Description
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What is pheochromocytoma?
Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease in which tumors form in
chromaffin cells of the body. Most
pheochromocytomas start inside the adrenal gland (the adrenal medulla) where
most chromaffin cells are located. There are two adrenal glands, one above
each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. Cells in the adrenal glands make
important hormones that help the body work properly. Usually pheochromocytoma
affects only one adrenal gland. Pheochromocytoma may also start in other parts
of the body, such as the area around the heart or bladder.
Most tumors that start in the chromaffin cells do not spread to other parts of
the body and are not cancer. These are called benign tumors. If a tumor is
found, the doctor will need to determine whether it is cancer or benign.
Pheochromocytomas often cause the adrenal glands to make too many hormones
called catecholamines. The extra catecholamines cause high blood pressure
(hypertension), which can cause headaches, sweating, pounding of the heart,
pain in the chest, and a feeling of anxiety. High blood pressure that goes on
for a long time without treatment can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other
major health problems.
If there are symptoms, a doctor may order blood and urine tests to see if there
are extra hormones in the body. A patient may also have a special nuclear
medicine scan. A CT scan, an x-ray that uses a computer to make a picture of
the inside of a part of the body or an MRI scan, which uses magnetic waves to
make a picture of the abdomen, may also be done.
Pheochromocytoma is sometimes part of a condition called multiple endocrine
neoplasia syndrome (MEN). People with MEN often have other cancers (such as
thyroid cancer) and other hormonal problems.
The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on how far the cancer has spread,
and the patient’s age and general health.
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Stage Explanation
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Stages of pheochromocytoma
Once pheochromocytoma is found, more tests will be done to see if the
tumor has spread. This is called staging. A doctor needs to know the stage
of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for
pheochromocytoma:
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Localized benign pheochromocytoma
Tumor is found in only one area and has not spread to other tissues. Most
pheochromocytomas do not spread to other parts of the body and are not cancer.
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Regional pheochromocytoma
Cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the area or to other tissues around the
original cancer. (Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are found
throughout the body. They produce and store infection-fighting cells.)
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Metastatic pheochromocytoma
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
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Recurrent pheochromocytoma
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has
been treated. It may come back in the area where it started or in another part
of the body.
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Treatment Option Overview
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How pheochromocytoma is treated
There are treatments for all patients with pheochromocytoma. Three kinds of
treatment are used:
Surgery is the most common treatment of pheochromocytoma. A doctor may remove
one or both adrenal glands in an operation called adrenalectomy. The doctor
will look inside the abdomen to make sure all the cancer is removed. If the
cancer has spread, lymph nodes or other tissues may also be taken out.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by
pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle.
Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the
bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the
body.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink
tumors. Radiation comes from a machine outside the body (external radiation
therapy).
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Treatment by stage
Treatments for pheochromocytoma depend on the stage of the disease, and the
patient’s age and overall health. For more information, call the Cancer
Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237); TTY at 1-800-332-8615.
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Localized Benign Pheochromocytoma
Treatment will probably be surgery to remove one or both adrenal glands
(adrenalectomy). After surgery the doctor will order blood and urine tests to
make sure hormone levels return to normal.
Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with localized benign pheochromocytoma.
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Regional Pheochromocytoma
Treatment may be one of the following:
Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with regional pheochromocytoma.
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Metastatic Pheochromocytoma
Treatment may be one of the following:
Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma.
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Recurrent Pheochromocytoma
Treatment may be one of the following:
Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent pheochromocytoma.
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Changes to This Summary (07/20/2007)
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as
new information becomes available. This section describes the latest
changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Editorial changes were made and glossary links were added to this summary.
This information is provided from the PDQ® database in collaboration with the NCI.
