My doctor says I might have a pheochromocytoma. What is that exactly?
A pheochromocytoma is a tumor that originates from the adrenal gland’s chromaffin cells, causing overproduction of catecholamines, powerful hormones that induce high blood pressure and other symptoms. With about 20 percent of pheochromocytomas, chromaffin cells grow outside their normal location in the adrenal glands. Only 5 percent of pheochromocytomas that grow within the adrenal glands are cancerous, but 30 percent of those outside the adrenal glands are cancerous. Pheochromocytomas occur in fewer than 1 in 1,000 people. They may occur in men or women at any age, but they’re most common between ages 30 and 60. Pheochromocytomas are usually very small. They rarely cause symptoms from pressure or obstruction and usually can’t be felt by a doctor. However, even a small pheochromocytoma can produce a substantial amount of potent catecholamines, which causes many symptoms. The catecholamines include hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine), norepinephrine, dopamine, and dopa, all of whi
