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Clonidine-suppression test in epinephrine secreting pheochromocytoma: report of a case.
- Source :
-
Journal of endocrinological investigation [J Endocrinol Invest] 1985 Apr; Vol. 8 (2), pp. 153-6. - Publication Year :
- 1985
-
Abstract
- A patient is described in whom the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was suspected on clinical grounds. He had normal urinary and plasma norepinephrine levels, with normal suppression of plasma norepinephrine by clonidine. However, plasma and urinary epinephrine levels were above normal, and plasma epinephrine was not suppressed but increased by clonidine. Selective venous sampling showed marked unilateral adrenal epinephrine excess. A large epinephrine secreting pheochromocytoma was surgically removed. This case suggests that, in pheochromocytomas releasing predominantly epinephrine, normal norepinephrine release from axon terminals of sympathetic postganglionic neurons is maintained and is suppressed by clonidine administration. It further reaffirms the value of plasma epinephrine estimations in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and indicates that normal suppression of plasma norepinephrine by clonidine does not preclude the presence of a predominantly epinephrine secreting tumor.
- Subjects :
- Adrenal Gland Neoplasms blood
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms metabolism
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ultrastructure
Adult
Cytoplasmic Granules ultrastructure
Epinephrine blood
Humans
Male
Microscopy, Electron
Norepinephrine blood
Pheochromocytoma blood
Pheochromocytoma metabolism
Pheochromocytoma ultrastructure
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms diagnosis
Clonidine
Epinephrine metabolism
Pheochromocytoma diagnosis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0391-4097
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of endocrinological investigation
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 4031382
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350673