Signs and symptoms of pheochromocytoma happen when the tumor releases too much adrenaline (epinephrine) or noradrenaline (norepinephrine) into your blood. What are the symptoms of pheochromocytoma? Less than 1% of people who have high blood pressure have a pheochromocytoma. The true number of pheochromocytoma cases is unknown since many people with pheochromocytomas don’t have symptoms and go undiagnosed. Approximately 10% of cases occur in children. Who gets a pheochromocytoma?Īnyone at any age can get a pheochromocytoma, but they occur most often in people between 30 and 50 years of age. Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that forms in the center of your adrenal gland (adrenal medulla), and paragangliomas form outside your adrenal gland. Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are both rare tumors that come from the same type of cells known as chromaffin cells. What is the difference between pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma? Sometimes a pheochromocytoma can release extra adrenaline and noradrenaline into your blood, causing certain symptoms. The way your body responds to stress (the “fight or flight” response).Your adrenal medullae make hormones called catecholamines that help regulate the following important bodily functions and aspects: The center of your adrenal gland is called your adrenal medulla. The outer layer of your adrenal gland is called your adrenal cortex. You have two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney in the back of your upper abdomen. It may come back in the same place or in another part of your body. Recurrent pheochromocytoma: The cancer has recurred (come back) after it has been treated.Metastatic pheochromocytoma: The cancer has spread to other parts of your body, like your liver, lungs, bone or distant lymph nodes.Regional pheochromocytoma: The cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other tissues near your adrenal glands.Localized pheochromocytoma: The tumor is in one or both adrenal glands only.Instead, it’s described as the following: There's no standard staging system for pheochromocytoma if it’s cancerous.

Approximately 10% to 15% of pheochromocytomas may be malignant ( cancerous). Most pheochromocytomas are benign (not cancerous). Sometimes there’s more than one tumor in one adrenal gland. Usually, pheochromocytoma affects only one adrenal gland, but it can affect both glands. The tumor is made of a certain type of cell called a chromaffin cell, which produce and release the hormones that cause the “fight or flight” response. What is pheochromocytoma?Ī pheochromocytoma (pronounced FEE-oh-KROH-moh-sy-TOH-muh) is a rare tumor that forms in the center of one or both of your adrenal glands ( adrenal medulla). A pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that forms in the middle of your adrenal gland.

Too much epinephrine symptoms