Editing Adrenal: Pheochromocytoma (section)

== Background ==

* Endocrine tumor that arises from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal gland
* '''≈1/3 are familial cases'''
* '''1-25% originate outside of the adrenal gland'''
** '''When it is found outside the adrenal gland, the tumor is called a paraganglioma.'''
** '''Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas occur in:'''
**# '''Organ of Zuckerkandl (located at bifurcation of aorta)'''
**# '''Sympathetic chain'''
**# '''Perivesical'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">≈5% of incidental adrenal masses will have a pheochromocytoma'''

* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Currently, malignant pheochromocytoma can only be defined by the presence of clinical metastases'''.
** A number of pathologic criteria to differentiate benign from malignant disease have been proposed, but to date there is no criterion agreed on.