[Diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma. Report of 48 cases].

A total of 48 patients with pheochromocytoma were treated during 1965-1989. The incidence of pheochromocytoma was about 2% in hypertensive patients at same period. In this series, 31 (64.6%) had adrenal pheochromocytoma and 17 (35.4%) extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. More than 50% of the patients showed such symptoms as hypertension, headache, sweating and palpitation. Urinary catecholamine level was significantly elevated in 97.6% of the patients. In tumor localization, CT showed an accurate diagnostic rate of 95.5% and ultrasonography 85.7%. The fluctuation of blood pressure and the amount of fluid requirement during operation in phenoxybenzamine-treated patients were lower than those in non-phenoxybenzamine-treated patients, but there was no statistically significant difference between < 14 days of treatment group and > 14 days of treatment group in phenoxybenzamine-treated patients. 47 patients underwent complete excision of tumor, except 1 patient with a gigantic tumor from the organs of Zuckerkandl. One patient died after operation.