[Detection of patients with pheochromocytoma using a cybernetic analysis method of the signs and symptoms of the disease].

The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is established more frequently in recent years due to better diagnostic possibilities. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to distinguish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma from mild, moderate and severe hypertension by analysis of symptoms and signs of pheochromocytoma using mathematical methods such as the pattern recognizing procedure before investigation of catecholamines in serum and urine. We retrospectively analysed the presence or absence of 45 symptoms and signs of pheochromocytoma except for investigation of catecholamines in 20 randomly selected patients with mild hypertension (HT), 20 patients with moderate HT, 20 patients with severe HT, and 20 patients with known pheochromocytoma. This procedure improved screening of pheochromocytoma and allowed early detection of the disease on a large scale.