Diagnosing Pheochromocytoma in von Hippel-Lindau Disease
Authors: Brian Aprill
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Letters15 September 1994Diagnosing Pheochromocytoma in von Hippel-Lindau DiseaseBrian Aprill, Almond J. Drake, and K. M. Mohamed ShakirBrian AprillNaval Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94627. National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600.Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.Search for more papers by this author, Almond J. DrakeNaval Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94627. National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600.Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.Search for more papers by this author, and K. M. Mohamed ShakirNaval Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94627. National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600.Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-121-6-199409150-00028 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We concur with Dr. Siddiqui's comments that CT scanning is highly sensitive in visualizing intra-adrenal pheochromocytomas [1]. However, CT scanning alone is not sufficient because of its relatively low specificity in distinguishing pheochromocytomas from other adrenal masses such as adrenal incidentalomas [1, 2]. Although MIBG scanning and MRI with T2-weighted images may be more specific for pheochromocytoma [1], diagnosis rests mainly on a high clinical suspicion (particularly in familial syndromes such as von Hippel-Lindau disease) and appropriate biochemical testing.The disparity in the surgical specimen and CT scan sizes of the left adrenal mass in patient 1 was ...References1. Stein PP, Black HR. A simplified diagnostic approach to pheochromocytoma. Medicine (Balt). 1990; 70:46-66. Google Scholar2. Gross MD, Shapiro B. Clinically silent adrenal masses. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993; 77:885-8. Google Scholar3. Sternberg SS, ed. Diagnostic Surgical Pathology. New York: Raven Press; 1989:461-3. Google Scholar4. Chew SL, Dacie JE, Reznek RH, Newbould EC, Sheaves R, Trainer PJ, et al. Bilateral pheochromocytomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease: diagnosis by adrenal vein sampling and catecholamine assay. Q J Med. 1994; 87:49-54. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Naval Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94627. National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600.Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 September 1994Volume 121, Issue 6Page: 465-466KeywordsBlood plasmaCatecholaminesComputed axial tomographyExcretionLesionsNorepinephrinePatient advocacyPheochromocytomaSpecificityVeins Issue Published: 15 September 1994 CopyrightCopyright © 1994 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...