High incidence of malignant pheochromocytoma in a surgical unit. 26 cases out of 100 patients operated from 1971 to 1991.

In this surgical series of 100 pheochromocytomas (PH), where 91 cases were studied and followed up, the frequency of malignancy appears high (29%) on macroscopic criteria observed at the first operation (25 out 26 cases of malignant PH) or thanks to the occurrence of metastases (1 case out of 26 malignant PH). While some clinical signs are suggestive, there is no excretory profile predictive of malignancy. Isolated or predominant secretion of dopamine is not specific of malignancy event if it occurs more frequently and severely in malignant PH. Bilateral involvement, occurring in the setting of phacomatosis or of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II), or in a sporadic case, is not a predictor for malignancy. Contrarily, extraadrenal involvement is a major feature indicative of malignancy. A CT scan which demonstrates possible locoregional invasion, and a MIGB scan revealing distant localizations raise the suspicion of malignancy. The preferred surgical approach is via a laparotomy, thus allowing the exploration of all possible abdominal chromaffin site and the search for intraabdominal metastases. Intraoperative MIBG scanning checks the completeness of the excision. Flow cytometric DNA ploidy studies have been performed in 25 of our patients. The follow up of benign or malignant PH, after excision "for cure" must be life-long: clinically, biologically and by MIGB scan. Persistence of the disease after surgery or recurrence with unresectable metastases can benefit from MIGB and chemotherapy.

[Can pheochromocytoma be considered a benign unilateral intra-adrenal sporadic hypertensive tumor ? Reflections on a series of 105 surgically treated subdiaphragmatic chromaffin tumors]. / Le phéochromocytome tumeur bénigne intra-surrénalienne sporadique hypertensive unilatérale existe-t-il? Réflexions sur une série de 105 tumeurs chromaffines sous-diaphragmatiques opérées.

In a 20 year period, from 1971 through 1991, 105 chromaffin tumours--excluding cervical ones--were operated by the same surgeon: 50 during the first 15 years and 55 during the last 5 years. Pheochromocytomas are defined as intra-adrenal chromaffin tumours, and paragangliomas--or ectopic pheochromocytomas--as of extra-adrenal location. Among those tumours, 30 were malignant (i.e. metastatic) and 75 benign. Among the 30 malignant tumours, 14 were ectopic, 2 occurred in a MEN II A setting and were bilateral, 2 were associated with liver adenoma and liver hemangioma respectively suggesting Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and one case was associated with a seemingly sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism. 9 out of those 30 malignancies were not associated with hypertension. Among 75 benign pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas, 10 were ectopic, 7 occurred in a MEN setting (6 type II, 1 type I). 3 patients without evidence of MEN or other neuroectodermal abnormalities presented bilateral pheochromocytoma, either synchronous (2) or metachronous (1). 7 cases occurred in a Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (3 bilateral) and 4 in a neurofibromatosis setting (1 bilateral). 3 other cases were familial without evidence of MEN (including a case of triple tumour: bilateral and ectopic and another ectopic case). 2 other cases were associated with seemingly sporadic hyperparathyroidism. As a whole, in 34 of 75 benign pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas, the tumour was not intra-adrenal, unilateral and sporadic. Among those 75 tumours, 22 were not overtly hypertensive, including 10 out of the 41 seemingly intra-adrenal, solitary and sporadic. The pheochromocytoma, benign, intra-adrenal sporadic, hypertensive accounts for no more than 30% of the subphrenic catecholamine-secretin chromaffin tumours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)