Predictors of Hypotension after Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma.

The management of blood pressure is a significant concern for surgeons and anesthesiologists performing adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. We evaluated clinical factors in pheochromocytoma patients to identify the predictors of postoperative hypotension. The medical records of patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma between 2001 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and clinical and biochemical data were evaluated. Of 29 patients, 13 patients needed catecholamine support in the perisurgical period while 16 patients did not. There were significant differences in median age, tumor size, and blood pressure drop (maxmin) between the 2 groups (68 vs 53 years old, p=0.045; 50 vs 32 mm diameter, p=0.022; 110 vs 71 mmHg, p=0.015 respectively). In univariate logistic analysis, age > 65.5 years, tumor size > 34.5 mm, urine metanephrine > 0.205 mg/day and urine normetanephrine > 0.665 mg/day were significant predictors of prolonged hypotension requiring postoperative catecholamine support. Tumor size and urine metanephrine and urine normetanephrine levels were correlated with postoperative hypotension. These predictors may help in the safe perioperative management of pheochromocytoma patients treated with adrenalectomy.

Pancreas-sparing tumor resection for peripancreatic paraganglioma: a case series of six patients.

Paragangliomas (PGLs) located around the pancreas are rare and challenging to diagnose preoperatively. Tumor resection with pancreatectomy is often performed for peripancreatic PGL. However, pancreas-sparing tumor resection can be indicated with an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Six patients with pathologically diagnosed peripancreatic PGL were included. The clinical data were retrospectively collected from medical records. Five of them were suspected of peripancreatic PGL on imaging studies due to the fat plane identified between the tumor and pancreas, and subsequently diagnosed with PGL preoperatively based on elevated urinary catecholamine levels and/or metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy without biopsy. All patients underwent pancreas-sparing tumor resection with negative surgical margins, and they did not develop postoperative complications related to potential damage to the pancreas. A fat plane between the tumor and pancreas on imaging studies and hormone levels are key findings for obtaining an accurate preoperative diagnosis of peripancreatic PGL, which can be managed with pancreas-sparing tumor resection.

A Sizeable Adrenal Ganglioneuroma: A Case Report.

Adrenal ganglioneuromas are mostly asymptomatic, although they may manifest with compressive local effects. We present a 27-year-old man with no medical history who was referred to the surgical oncology clinic due to the incidental finding of a left adrenal mass. The initial computed tomography (CT) abdomen revealed a large mass causing displacement of adjacent organs. A CT-guided biopsy was inconclusive, and further evaluation with an NM endo-adrenal (MIBG) medullary scan pointed to a possible diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Laboratory tests showed normal levels of urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine. The patient's history revealed chronic abdominal pain, with no symptoms of hypertension, headache, palpitations, or sweating. Subsequently, the patient underwent a left adrenalectomy without complications. This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach in managing adrenal masses, particularly when dealing with non-specific symptoms, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Laparoscopic resection of aortocaval paraganglioma diagnosed by serial increase in urinary metanephrines after bilateral adrenalectomy in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A.

INTRODUCTION: Although bilateral pheochromocytoma is prevalent in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, extra-adrenal tumors rarely occur in the aortocaval area. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old man with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (RET codon Cys634Arg mutation) underwent bilateral adrenalectomy for metachronous pheochromocytoma. After bilateral adrenalectomy, urinary metanephrines decreased below the measurement sensitivity. The levels of urinary metanephrines were serially elevating to a peak of 187 ng/mgCr during the 11-year follow-up period; however, urinary normetanephrine levels remained almost stable. 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computed tomography revealed abnormal accumulation with a mass of 25 × 18 mm in diameter in the aortocaval space cranially to the renal vessels. The extra-adrenal paraganglioma was successfully resected using transperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: The serial increase in urinary metanephrine levels was useful for the detection of the recurrent tumor in a patient who had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy.

Diagnostic Value of 24-hours Urinary Total Metanephrine As a Screening Test of Patients with Suspected Pheochromocytoma / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: A pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of secondary hypertension. Its diagnosis is important as the hypertension is usually curable by resection of the tumor, whereas the condition is potentially lethal if undetected. Biochemical confirmation of excessive catecholamine production is a prerequisite to a definitive diagnosis. Various studies from other countries have indicated that measuring of the urinary metanephrine, using a specific procedure, is the single most reliable screening test for all patients suspected of having a pheochromocytoma. However, the diagnostic value of urinary metanephrine has never been reported in Korea. We investigated the diagnostic value of 24-hours urinary metanephrine in patients with a suspected pheochromocytoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation study, which included 95 patients with sustained hypertension and paroxysmal symptoms, and 38 patients with asymptomatic adrenal incidentaloma at Seoul National University Hospital, between July 2000 and October 2002. We performed the 24- hour urinary total metanephrine test on all patients. The diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma was applied only when confirmed by pathological analysis of a resected specimen. The possibility of a pheochromocytoma was ruled out when all biochemical tests were normal, which were performed at least in duplicate, or there was no evidence of a mass in abdominal radiological studies or histological verification. We determined the upper reference limit for urinary metanephrine as 1.3mg/day and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the 24-hour urinary metanephrine test. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma. The total metanephrine measurement had sensitivities and specificities of 82.4 and 73.3% in all the patients, 90.9 and 66.7% in patients with hypertension and paroxysmal symptoms, and 66.7 and 90.6% in patients with adrenal incidentaloma, respectively. CONCLUSION: The urinary total metanephrine measurement had relatively lower sensitivities and specificities than in other countries(sensitivity: 83~100%, specificity: 80~98%). The sensitivity of urinary metanephrine was relatively high in patients with hypertension and paroxysmal symptoms, and the specificity was high in patients with an adrenal incidentaloma. We suggest that normetanephrine and metanephrine should be separately measured, and a reasonable upper reference limit be used. It may also be necessary to measure urinary metanephrine together with urinary catecholamine or VMA to improve the diagnostic value of the urinary metanephrine test.