From the Guidelines
Pheochromocytomas typically cause symptoms related to excessive catecholamine release, including episodic high blood pressure, severe headaches, heart palpitations, and excessive sweating, as noted in the most recent guidelines 1.
Symptoms of Pheochromocytoma
The symptoms of pheochromocytoma can vary widely in severity and frequency, but commonly include:
- Episodic high blood pressure
- Severe headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Excessive sweating
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Facial flushing
- Nausea
- Abdominal or chest pain These episodes, often called "spells" or "attacks," can last minutes to hours and may be triggered by certain activities, medications, or foods.
Classic Triad of Symptoms
The classic triad of symptoms includes headaches, sweating, and tachycardia, though not all patients experience all three simultaneously, as mentioned in 1 and 1.
Asymptomatic Cases
Some patients may be asymptomatic with the tumor discovered incidentally during imaging for other conditions, highlighting the importance of screening and diagnosis, as discussed in 1 and 1.
Importance of Early Detection
Early detection and proper treatment of pheochromocytoma are crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality, as emphasized in the recent guidelines 1 and studies 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
In patients with pheochromocytoma, who produce excessive amounts of norepinephrine and epinephrine... Most patients with pheochromocytoma treated with metyrosine experience decreased frequency and severity of hypertensive attacks with their associated headache, nausea, sweating, and tachycardia The symptoms of pheochromocytoma include:
- Hypertensive attacks
- Headache
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Tachycardia 2
From the Research
Symptoms of Pheochromocytoma
The symptoms of pheochromocytoma can be highly variable and may mimic other diseases, making diagnosis challenging 3. Some common symptoms include:
- Sustained or paroxysmal hypertension
- Severe headaches
- Palpitations
- Sweating
- Paroxysmal symptoms, such as episodic headache, sweating, and tachycardia 4, 5
- Classic triad of episodic headache, sweating, and tachycardia, present in a subset of patients 3, 5
Clinical Presentation
The clinical presentation of pheochromocytoma can vary, with some patients presenting with:
- Incidentalomas, where the tumor is discovered incidentally during imaging for other reasons 5
- Suspected pheochromocytoma, where the patient presents with symptoms suggestive of the disease 5
- Pheochromocytoma crisis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention 5
- Atypical presentations, such as cerebellar infarct and aortic thrombi, which can make diagnosis challenging 4
Hormonal Excess
Pheochromocytomas are characterized by excess catecholamine production, which can lead to: