BRUNILDA MEZANI, ANILA MITRE
Abstract
Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumour that is produced in the adrenal medulla or the inner portion of the adrenal gland. This tumour is characterised by an overproduction of catecholamines, especially adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are chemicals that control the body’s stress responses. An excess of these hormones causes hyperfunction of the cardiovascular system and the nervous system and symptoms such as arrhythmia, sustained or paroxysmal hypertension, anxiety, intense cephalalgia, diaphoresis, normal urination, and impulsive weight loss. Due to the hormonal activity of pheochromocytoma, it can impact different organ systems and can be life-threatening if not detected or treated. For diagnostics, a complete multi-biomarker panel was applied, which includes the parameters of fractionated metanephrines (metanephrine and normetanephrine) in 24- hour urine, as well as vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). The results of these biochemical biomarkers estimate the diagnosis, with high sensitivity and specificity.
Key words: Pheochromocytoma, metanephrine, normetanephrine, vanylmandelic acid (VMA), urinary biomarkers, neuroendocrine tumour.