Title: Benign pheochromocytoma associated with elevated excretion of homovanillic acid
Abstract: The excretion of catecholamine metabolites was determined in nine children prior to and following resection of one or more well-encapsulated, benign pheochromocytomas. One third of these subjects presented with increased excretion of homovanillic acid as well as markedly increased excretion of vanillylmandelic acid and total metanephrines: biochemical evidence opposed to the presence of a benign pheochromocytoma. No significant difference in age, sex, clinical presentation, course, or postoperative biochemical evaluation could be detected between this group and the six remaining subjects. Elevated homovanillic acid excretion, indicative of the presence of a malignant pheochromocytoma in the adult, does not carry this serious prognostic import in childhood. In childhood, elevated homovanillic acid and markedly increased excration of vanillylmandelic acid and total metanephrines, usually associated with neuroblastoma, do not rule out the diagnostic possibility of a benign pheochromocytoma. The excretion of catecholamine metabolites was determined in nine children prior to and following resection of one or more well-encapsulated, benign pheochromocytomas. One third of these subjects presented with increased excretion of homovanillic acid as well as markedly increased excretion of vanillylmandelic acid and total metanephrines: biochemical evidence opposed to the presence of a benign pheochromocytoma. No significant difference in age, sex, clinical presentation, course, or postoperative biochemical evaluation could be detected between this group and the six remaining subjects. Elevated homovanillic acid excretion, indicative of the presence of a malignant pheochromocytoma in the adult, does not carry this serious prognostic import in childhood. In childhood, elevated homovanillic acid and markedly increased excration of vanillylmandelic acid and total metanephrines, usually associated with neuroblastoma, do not rule out the diagnostic possibility of a benign pheochromocytoma.
Publication Year: 1972
Publication Date: 1972-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 19
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