Most pheochromocytomas can be cured by resection. In view of the unfavourable prognosis for surgical therapy in cases of late tumour detection and malignant tumours, the aim of the present study is to differentiate between typical signs and symptoms of malignant versus benign pheochromocytomas. We investigated the records of 133 patients retrospectively (1967-1998). In cases of benign tumours (...

BACKGROUND Although pheochromocytomas are believed to account for fewer than 0.3% of all cases of hypertension, aggressive diagnostic and surgical intervention is recommended whenever a pheochromocytoma is suspected because uncontrolled catecholamine release from the tumors can lead to catastrophic consequences. Many biochemical diagnostic and imaging localization tests exist for detecting pheo...

Inherited pheochromocytomas are often part of familial syndromes, especially multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), retinal cerebellar hemangioblastomatosis [von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease] or neurofibromatosis type 1. It is not clear whether isolated familial pheochromocytoma exists as a separate clinical entity. In a family with pheochromocytomas in three generations and with at least ...

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be an unusual first clinical manifestation of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas are tumors that may produce a variety of substances in addition to catecholamines. To date, several cases of IL-6-producing pheochromocytomas have been reported. This report describes a 45-year-old woman with pheochromocytoma who was admitted with FUO, normal blood pressure levels...

Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas are termed paragangliomas. Paragangliomas in the mediastinum, especially the superior mediastinum, are extremely rare. It is known that paragangliomas or pheochromocytomas occur in combination with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. We present the case of a non-functional superior mediastinal paraganglioma in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, without a familial...

This article focuses on discourses of child safety and protection stakeholder organisations (SOs) school pastoral care co-ordinators (PCCs) educating young people about sexting. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with the representatives four who assist schools in delivery Relationships Sexuality Education (RSE); three PCCs different types secondary Northern Ireland to ascerta...

The Warburg effect describes how cancer cells down-regulate their aerobic respiration and preferentially use glycolysis to generate energy. To evaluate the link between hypoxia and Warburg effect, we studied mitochondrial electron transport, angiogenesis and glycolysis in pheochromocytomas induced by germ-line mutations in VHL, RET, NF1 and SDH genes. SDH and VHL gene mutations have been shown ...

BACKGROUND Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are intra- and extra-adrenal neoplasms that are rarely malignant. The treatment of those that are malignant has remained a challenge because little was known about the molecular pathways involved in its malignant transformation. Recently, however, the genetic and molecular changes involved in malignant pheochromocytoma have come to be understood. ...