Treatment option overview How pheochromocytoma is treated There are treatments for all patients with pheochromocytoma. Surgery is the most common treatment of pheochromocytoma. A doctor may remove one or both adrenal glands in an operation called adrenalectomy. The doctor will look inside the abdomen to make sure all the cancer is removed. If the cancer has spread, lymph nodes or other tissues may also be taken out.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Treatment by stage Treatments for pheochromocytoma depend on the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and overall health. After surgery the doctor will order blood and urine tests to make sure hormone levels return to normal. If cancer remains after surgery, drugs will be given to control high blood pressure.