ABSTRACT
Objective To review the experience in diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma in a single center. Methods A total number of 142/145 pheochromocytoma cases treated surgically in our institute from August 2002 to February 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean diameter of tumor was 5.9 cm (1.3- 18. 0 cm). The majority of the tumors (92.9%) were adrenal pheochromocytomas. Ninety-eight patients (69.0 % ) presented initially with hypertension, whereas 44 patients (31%)presented with adrenal incidentaloma. A specific anti-hypertensive pre-surgery preparation with phenoxybenzamine or doxazosine mesylate was started over 1 week before the operation.Of the 142 patients, 91 accepted open surgery, 54 accepted laparoscopic surgery, of which, 5 converted from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery. Results Histopathological results showed that all the cases were pheochromocytoma, while 83 cases were benign, 23 cases were malignant and 37 cases were suspected malignant. Sudden rising of blood pressure during operation was related to the preoperative serum level of catecholamine. Eighty-seven of 98 patients with preoperative hypertension had normal postoperative blood pressure; the remaining 11 patients reduced the dosage of anti-hypertension medication postoperatively. During the follow-up of 3-96 months (median 46 months), 10 of 91patients had a recurrence or metastasis. Six patients died of recurrences or metastasis within 5 years.Conclusions The procedures of qualitative and locative diagnosis of phechromocytoma include clinical manifestations, biochemical tests and imaging investigation. Surgical excision is the fundamental treatment for cure. Patients with high serum level of catecholamine tend to have a sudden rising of blood pressure during operation. Preoperative management is extremely important for the safety of the patient. Intensive follow up is necessary.