Analysis of laboratory data of 155 patients with pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma syndrome diagnosed during the past 20 years

Abstract

Introduction: Laboratory diagnosis of pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma syndrome has been markedly improved during the past two decades. Aim: Retrospective assessment of diagnostic utility of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites as well as serum chromogranin A in 155 patients diagnosed at the 2nd Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University. Method: Urinary catecholamines and metabolites were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in 155 patients with pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma (of whom 28.4% had hereditary background) and in 170 non-pheochromocytoma patients used as controls. Serum chromogranin A was measured by immunoradiometry. Results: Sensitivity (93.2%) and specificity (87.0%) of urinary fractionated metanephrines were higher than those of urinary catecholamines (90.9% vs. 85.7%, respectively) and serum chromogranin A (88.7% and 77.5%, respectively). Urinary normetanephrine and serum chromogranin A correlated positively with tumor size (r = 0.552, p<0.0001 and r = 0.618, p<0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: These data confirm the diagnostic utility of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites. Urinary normetanephrine and serum chromogranin A may help to estimate tumour mass and probably tumour progression. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(16), 626-635.