Endocrine Society publishes clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of adrenal tumors rare

Endocrine Society publishes clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of adrenal tumors rare -

Endocrine Society published clinical practice guideline on pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma

issued The endocrine Society today clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of two types of rare adrenal tumors - pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas -. which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and even death if untreated

CPG, entitled "pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: a clinical practice guideline Endocrine Society," published in the issue of June 2014, the the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of the Endocrine Society

Pheochromocytomas are. rare tumors usually noncancerous that form inside the adrenal glands, while paragangliomas are similar tumors that develop outside the glands. Tumors induce the body to produce excessive amounts of hormones adrenaline - commonly called adrenaline - and norepinephrine, which is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Symptoms of these tumors include high blood pressure, severe episodic headaches, excessive sweating, palpitations, anxiety and trembling feelings.

Experts estimate between 0.1 and 1 percent of patients treated for hypertension are pheochromocytoma, according to the National Institutes of the National Cancer Institute of Health.

"correctly diagnose pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma is extremely important," said Jacques WM Lenders, MD, PhD, FRCP, of Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and working group chairman who drafted the guideline. "in addition to the strain these tumors placed on the cardiovascular system, 10 to 17 percent of tumors may become malignant. the researchers found that at least a third of people with these conditions a genetic mutation causing the disease, early detection can benefit if the family members who may be at risk "

in the GPC, the Endocrine Society recommends that initial tests for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma include blood or urine for metanephrines -. products left when the body metabolizes adrenaline and noradrenaline. . Research has shown blood and urine test for metanephrines are more effective in identifying patients who have pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma other testing techniques

Other recommendations of the CPG include:

• people who are diagnosed with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma should be involved in a shared decision-making process with their doctors to assess the need for genetic testing;

• a diagnostic algorithm that takes into account risk factors such as age during the presentation of the tumor and family history should be used to determine which patients might benefit more genetic tests with specific gene mutations to test;

• people with paraganglioma and those diagnosed with metastatic tumors should be tested for specific genetic mutations associated with these conditions;

• CT scans can be used as the first choice of imaging technology to determine the location of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma for surgical treatment;

• MRI imaging technology to be used in specific situations, including patients who have metastatic tumors, to detect head and neck paraganglioma and for patients that radiation exposure should be limited; and

• Another imaging technology, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography / tomography, can be used in patients with metastatic tumors.