Perioperative Management of Pheochromocytoma

Excerpt

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare neuroendocrine catecholamine-secreting tumor originating from chromaffin tissue. The term 'pheochromocytoma' refers to the color the tumor cells get when stained with chromium salts (In Greek, phaios means dusky, chroma means color, and cytoma means tumor).

Yearly, 1 to 2 per 1000 people are diagnosed with PCC. PCC is the cause of hypertension in 1 in 500 adults. These tumors are usually diagnosed by the 4th to 5th decade and are found equally in both genders. Hereditary pheochromocytoma usually presents at a younger age.