SELECTIVE VENOUS SAMPLING IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND LOCALIZATION OF PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA

Abstract

Plasma noradrenaline [norepinephrine] levels were measured at several sites in the systemic venous system by selective catheterization in 10 hypertensive patients in whom pheochromocytoma was suspected on clinical or biochemical grounds. Patients (4) had localized noradrenaline elevation and the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed at operation. The remaining 6 patients demonstrated no localized elevation of noradrenaline and there was no evidence of a tumor on follow up. The technique allows the diagnosis and accurate localization of pheochromocytoma and is useful in excluding the tumor in patients with essential hypertension.