Laboratory diagnostics of adrenal diseases. Practice guidelines for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma [La diagnostica di laboratorio delle malattie del surrene. Raccomandazioni pratiche per feocromocitoma e paraganglioma]

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumor derived from the neural crest. It is a rare tumor with an incidence in the general population of 2–8 cases per million population per year. Pheochromocytomas most commonly arise in the adrenal medulla but they can also occur extra-adrenally; these tumors are referred to as paragangliomas. The clinical presentation involves a constellation of signs and symptoms associated with catecholamine excess: hypertension (paroxysmal or sustained), sweating, pallor, headaches, palpitations, anxiety, dyspeptic complaints, paresthesias, visual disturbances, chest and abdominal pain.