Yonsei Med J.  2011 Jan;52(1):45-50. 10.3349/ymj.2011.52.1.45.

Clinical Experiences of Pheochromocytoma in Korea

• Kim KH
• Chung JS
• Kim WT
• Oh CK
• Chae YB
• Yu HS
• Ham WS
• Choi YD

• KMID: 1106436
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2011.52.1.45

Abstract

PURPOSE
We report herein 119 patients with pheochromocytoma at our institute over the last 23 years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between 1986 and 2009, 119 patients were diagnosed with pheochromocytoma at our institute. We reviewed the medical records of these patients.
RESULTS
Of 119 patients, 45 were male and 74 were female, and mean age was 43.83 +/- 13.49 years. Forty-three patients (36.1%) were diagnosed incidentally, and 8 patients (6.7%) were found to have familial pheochromocytoma. The mean dimension of the tumors was 5.89 +/- 3.18 cm. 4 patients had bilateral tumors; three of these patients were found to have familial pheochromocytoma and 1 patient was diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma. A total of eight patients (6.7%) were found to have malignant pheochromocytoma. In 1 patient, metastasis to a lymph node was found at the time of diagnosis. Metastases were found at a mean of 49 +/- 25.83 (6-75) months after surgery in the other seven patients. 6 patients died of malignant pheochromocytoma at a mean of 31 +/- 28.71 months (1-81) after diagnosis, and the other 2 patients survived for 15 and 24 months, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Approximately 35% of patients with pheochromocytoma are diagnosed incidentally, and the number of detected cases is increasing. Although familial pheochromocytoma was found only in 6.7% of the patients, genetic testing should be considered in all patients, especially in patients with a family history, young age, or multifocal, bilateral, extra-adrenal, or malignant tumors. Given that malignant pheochromocytomas are frequently diagnosed during the follow-up period, long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm the absence of recurrence or metastasis.

Keyword

Pheochromocytoma; incidentaloma; adrenal tumor

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology
Adult
Aged
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pheochromocytoma/*diagnosis/pathology
Young Adult

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