Pheochromocytoma diagnosed pathologically with previous negative serum markers

• Published in: Journal of surgical oncology 2015-10, Vol.112 (5), p.492-495
• Main Authors: Heavner, Matthew G., Krane, Louis S., Winters, Shira M., Mirzazadeh, Majid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-Iodobenzylguanidine; adrenal; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - blood; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnosis; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Body Mass Index; Catecholamines - blood; Dizziness; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; metanephrines; Middle Aged; pheochromocytoma; Pheochromocytoma - blood; Pheochromocytoma - diagnosis; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Vertigo; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-4790; 1096-9098
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.24031

Background and objectives Patients presenting with adrenal masses require workup with catecholamine or metabolite measurements to rule out pheochromocytoma. There is a select portion of patients with marker negative pheochromocytoma. The aim of this study is to compare patient characteristics and presentations between marker positive and marker negative tumors. Methods We performed an IRB‐approved retrospective chart review of 88 cases of pheochromocytoma excised at our institution from 1995 to 2013. We considered any abnormal elevation in diagnostic test to be marker‐positive. Results Seventy‐eight cases had laboratory results available. Among these, seven had no elevations in laboratory testing. There was no difference in age or tumor size, but marker‐negative patients had higher BMI than marker‐positive patients. Marker negative patients were more likely to present with vertigo/dizziness (P = 0.003). Neither was more likely to have a genetic syndrome associated with risk of pheochromocytoma. Conclusions Marker‐negative pheochromocytoma is uncommon, representing 9% of cases in our series. Of patients with adrenal masses or presentation suggesting catecholamine excess with normal labs, those with vertigo/dizziness may warrant a metaiodobenzylguanidine scan or repeat testing to avoid missing pheochromocytoma. Clinicians may need a high degree of suspicion for pheochromocytoma in patients with negative testing and elevated BMI. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:492–495. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.