A Simple Guide to Pheochromocytoma (Updated), Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Pheochromocytoma, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Pheochromocytoma is an uncommon tumor of adrenal gland
Location of this adrenal tumor can be found by a MRI scan
Pheochromocytoma tends to secrete excessive catecholamines
This can cause a hypertensive crisis which is life threatening

Pheochromocytoma is usually caused by a genetic mutation
There is no sex difference or any particular racial predisposition
Catecholamines have effects on the heart rate, metabolism
Most patients have headache, tremors, sweating and palpitation

Diagnosis is also based on the increase in blood catecholamines
Other tests showed raised blood calcium and urine metanephrines
MRI an CAT scans will be able to the adrenal tumor location
Final diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is by biopsy examination

The treatment of choice for pheochromocytoma is surgical resection
Preoperative blood pressure and pulse must be stabilized with medication
If surgery is not advisable, medical treatment will control the excess hormones
Radiation treatment is not effective and therefore not performed

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Pheochromocytoma or "paraganglioma" is an infrequent adrenal gland medullar tumor in which there is excess production of the epinephrine (adrenaline).

Pheochromocytomas are tumors that form in the adrenal medulla, the inner part of the adrenal gland, which can induce overproduction of catecholamines.

Catecholamines are stimulating hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) that are involved in the maintenance of blood pressure.

Excess of catecholamines produces high blood pressure in most of the patients.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease;

Of all patients with hypertension, less than one percent has adrenal tumors and the resulting hormone overproduction.

If left untreated, it can have serious consequences such as heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions.

85% of the tumors are benign.

The tumor may be large up to 15 cm or 6 inches in diameter.

It causes ill effects in the affected person by the secretion (intermittent or continuous) of excessive epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that has effects on the heart rate, metabolism, and blood pressure.

It happens in middle adult life around 40-50 years of age.

Its occurrence is slightly more frequent in females than in males.

In most cases, a pheochromocytoma is a single, benign tumor that happens in a patient without a family history of endocrine disorders.

A small proportion may be related to the pheochromocytoma’s hereditary causes.

It normally starts forming in the medulla of one or both adrenal glands.

This tumor rarely appears outside the adrenal gland, normally somewhere else in the abdomen.

Typical symptoms may be high blood pressure and events of:
1. Severe headache
2. Sweating
3. Palpitations

The 3 major tests used to locate a pheochromocytoma are the CT scan, MRI scan, the meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan.

Provocative testing for fiagnosis can cause dangerous hypertensive episodes and are seldom done.

The treatment normally requires the removal of the tumor by surgery.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Pheochromocytoma (Updated)
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Adrenal Fatigue (Updated)
Chapter 8 Life and Death of Adrenal Gland
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: May 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005157296

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

A

Simple

Guide

To

Pheochromocytoma (Updated),

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2021 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Pheochromocytoma, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to Treat Pheochromocytoma)

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords n.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

My diagnosis and treatment capability has improved tremendously from my continued education.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Pheochromocytoma (Updated)

(Chapter from A Simple Guide to Pheochromocytoma 2014 by Kenneth Kee)

Pheochromocytoma is an uncommon tumor of adrenal gland

Location of this adrenal tumor can be found by a MRI scan

Pheochromocytoma tends to secrete excessive catecholamines

This can cause a hypertensive crisis which is life threatening

Pheochromocytoma is usually caused by a genetic mutation

There is no sex difference or any particular racial predisposition

Catecholamines have effects on the heart rate, metabolism

Most patients have headache, tremors, sweating and palpitation

Diagnosis is also based on the increase in blood catecholamines

Other tests showed raised blood calcium and urine metanephrines

MRI an CAT scans will be able to the adrenal tumor location

Final diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is by biopsy examination

The treatment of choice for pheochromocytoma is surgical resection

Preoperative blood pressure and pulse must be stabilized with medication

If surgery is not advisable, medical treatment will control the excess hormones

Radiation treatment is not effective and therefore not performed

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

What is Pheochromocytoma?

Pheochromocytoma or "paraganglioma" is an infrequent adrenal gland medullar tumor in which there is excess production of the epinephrine (adrenaline).

Pheochromocytomas are tumors that form in the adrenal medulla, the inner part of the adrenal gland, which can induce overproduction of catecholamines.

Catecholamines are stimulating hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) that are involved in the maintenance of blood pressure.

Excess of catecholamines produces high blood pressure in most of the patients.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease;

Of all patients with hypertension, less than one percent has adrenal tumors and the resulting hormone overproduction.

If left untreated, it can have serious consequences such as heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions.

85% of the tumors are benign.

The tumor may be large up to 15 cm or 6 inches in diameter.

It causes ill effects in the affected person by the secretion (intermittent or continuous)