Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare tumor that commonly grows in the adrenal glands, above your kidneys. Also known as adrenal paraganglioma or chromaffin cell tumor.

It is the most common in adults in their 30s to 50s, but people of all ages can have it. Children make up about 10% of all cases.

The adrenal glands produce hormones that regulate such things as your metabolism and blood pressure. Pheochromocytoma also releases the hormones, at much higher levels than usual.These extra hormones cause high blood pressure, which can damage your heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys. But most pheochromocytoma tumors are harmless, meaning they are free of cancer.

SYMPTOMS 

Some people with this have high blood pressure all the time. For others, it may go down. That might be your only sign of trouble. But most people have at least one other mark, which includes:

• The Constipation
• The Dizziness when standing
• The Nausea
• The Trembling
• The Shortness of breath
• The Paleness of  skin
• There is Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• There is Very painful headache
• The Abdominal, side, or back pain
• There is Unusual sweating and Vomiting
• There's Weight loss and Weaknesses
• And the Anxiety attacks

These symptoms can occur suddenly, like seizures, several times a day. Or they may occur just a few times a month. As the condition grows, invasion may intensify and may occur more frequently.

Pheochromocytoma Triggers

Attacks on other people are caused by things like:the patient Massages to others. The Medications, especially anesthesia or beta-blockers. Emotional stress and Physical activity lead to cause the disease. Childbirth with the Surgery leads to the diseases. And the Foods high in amino acid tyramine, such as red wine, chocolate, or cheese

Causes and Risk Factors

Doctors do not know why many PCC tumors form. About its 30% of cases appear to run in families. These are more likely to get cancer than those that occur at random.

This is the  most common in people with problems or conditions that are passed from parents to children, including: Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type II, Von Hippel-Lindau's disease, Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)Hereditary paraganglioma syndrome

COMPLICATIONS

If you do not get treatment, PCC can lead to life-threatening conditions, including:

• There is Cardiomyopathy
• The Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Bleeding occurs from your brain
• Increased fluid in your lungs (edema of the lungs)
• The Heart disease and the Kidney failure
• Nerve damage to your eyes

Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma

1. Most people with pheochromocytoma are never diagnosed because the symptoms are the same as in other cases. Other tests may tell your doctor if you have:
2. A blood or urine test to look for high levels of hormones
3. MRI scanner (magnetic resonance imaging), which uses powerful magnets and radio waves to take pictures of organs and tissues to examine the tumor. CT scan, which involves several X-rays taken at different angles to detect the tumor
4. If you have a PCC, you may have a test to see if there is a problem with your genes. This can tell you if you are likely to get another tumor and if your family members are at high risk.

Treatment of Pheochromocytoma

You will probably need surgery to remove the tumor. Your doctor can do this using small cuts instead of one large opening. This is called laparoscopic surgery or minimally invasive surgery. You usually recover faster from those procedures than from conventional surgery.

Prior to surgery, you may need to take medication to lower your blood pressure and control your heart rate from time to time.

If you have a tumor on only one adrenal gland, your doctor will probably remove the prostate. Other hunger will make the hormones your body needs.

If you have tumors in both glands, your surgeon may simply remove the tumors and leave a portion of the glands.

If your tumor is cancerous, you may also have radiation, chemotherapy, or targeted treatment (using drugs to attack cancer cells) to help keep you from growing.

PRECAUTIONS 

If your doctor removes both adrenal glands, you can take medication to help replace the hormones your body can no longer make.

Whatever your treatment, you will need to have regular checkups with your doctor to make sure the PCC does not return. They can also help you manage any long-term side effects of treatment.

On average, about 95 percent of people diagnosed with pneumonia that have not yet spread to other parts of their body live for at least 5 years. Once the tumors have spread or return after treatment, about 50 to 60 percent of people live for at least 5 years after diagnosis.