Up to 10% of cases are discovered incidentally, meaning that they are not suspected and only found when the patient is undergoing diagnostic studies for other conditions. Some people, however, never develop symptoms of pheochromocytoma. Other conditions that may accompany these classic symptoms are as follows: anxiety, nausea, tremors, weakness, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Someone with a pheochromocytoma usually has three classic symptoms - headache, sweating, and heart palpitations (a fast heartbeat) in association with markedly elevated blood pressure ( hypertension). How do you know if you have pheochromocytoma? Pheochromocytomas are, fortunately, quite rare, and most of them are benign. The peak incidence is between the third and the fifth decades of life. Pheochromocytomas may occur in persons of any age. In this case, they are termed extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas and are usually located in the abdomen. Sometimes, pheochromocytomas arise from chromaffin cells that are located outside of the adrenal gland.

The catecholamine-secreting cells are sometimes referred to as chromaffin cells, and they are found in other areas of the body as well as in the adrenal medulla. A pheochromocytoma is a tumor of these catecholamine-secreting cells, and that causes the clinical signs and symptoms we will discuss below.

It is these cells that are overproduced by a pheochromocytoma. They are responsible in part for that feeling of 'adrenaline' rush people feel when they are afraid. This is where the cells secrete substances called catecholamines - epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The inner area of the adrenal gland is referred to as the adrenal medulla. In part of the adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata and zona reticularis) the cells secrete cortisol, a hormone similar to cortisone, which is essential for handling stresses In another area (zona glomerulosa) cells secrete a hormone called aldosterone which helps in water and salt regulation and blood pressure control. The outer portion of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal cortex.

Cells in different regions of the adrenal glands have different functions in the endocrine system.

They are complex endocrine (hormone-secreting) glands. One adrenal gland sits on top of each of the two kidneys.ĭespite their small size, the adrenal glands have many functions. As the name implies, the adrenal glands are located near the 'renal' (kidney) area. Pheochromocytomas are a type of tumor of the adrenal glands that can release high levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

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