phaeochromocytoma

Thân thiện

A doctor points to an image of a phaeochromocytoma on a medical chart.

Definition

Noun: A rare, usually benign tumor that develops in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal glands. This tumor causes the excessive and often irregular secretion of catecholamines (such as epinephrine and norepinephrine), leading to episodes of high blood pressure, severe headaches, rapid heart rate, and sweating.

Usage

The term is used in medical contexts to diagnose and describe a specific type of neuroendocrine tumor. * The patient's paroxysmal hypertension was eventually diagnosed as being caused by a phaeochromocytoma. * Surgical removal is the primary treatment for a phaeochromocytoma.

Advanced Usage

• Familial phaeochromocytoma: Refers to cases where the tumor occurs as part of inherited genetic syndromes, such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or Von Hippel-Lindau disease.
• Malignant phaeochromocytoma: A rare variant where the tumor cells metastasize to other parts of the body.

Variants and Related Words

• Pheochromocytoma: The more common American English spelling of the same medical term.
• Paraganglioma: A closely related tumor that arises from similar chromaffin cells but outside the adrenal glands, often in the abdomen, chest, or neck.

Synonyms

• Chromaffin tumor
• Adrenal medullary tumor

Notes on Different Meanings

This is a highly specialized medical term with a single, specific meaning in endocrinology and oncology. It does not have general or figurative uses.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a vascular tumor of the adrenal gland; hypersecretion of epinephrine results in intermittent or sustained hypertension

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pheochromocytoma