Table 3:
Comparison between cystic and noncystic pheochromocytoma
| Cystic pheochromocytoma | Non-cystic Pheochromocytoma* | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age, years (range) | 57 (51–67) | 52 (5–84) |
|
| ||
| Women, (%) | 57% | 52% |
|
| ||
| Mode of discovery, % | ||
| Incidental | 60% | 62% |
| Abdominal mass effect | 25% | - |
| Symptoms of hormone excess | 10% | 26% |
| Genetic surveillance | 5% | 12% |
|
| ||
| Symptoms of catecholamine excess regardless of the mode of discovery, % | 62% | 68% |
|
| ||
| Type of clinical manifestations, % | ||
| Palpitations | 62% | 56% |
| Spells | 62% | 37% |
| Paroxysmal hypertension | 54% | 40% |
| Sustained hypertension | 15% | - |
| Headaches | - | 43% |
|
| ||
| Tumor laterality, % | Predominantly unilateral | Predominantly unilateral, bilateral in 8% |
|
| ||
| Median tumor size, cm (range) | 6.4 (3–19) | 4.0 (8–26) |
|
| ||
| Median unenhanced CT attenuation, HU (range) | Cystic component: 18 (13–30) | 35 (18–58) |
| Solid component: 40 (22–50) | ||
|
| ||
| Median contrast enhancement, HU (range) | Cystic component: 20 (15–33) | 83 (22–187) |
| Solid component: 93 (67–132) | ||
|
| ||
| Biochemical profile, % | ||
| Adrenergic | 80% | 66% |
| Noradrenergic | 20% | 30% |
| Nonfunctioning | 0% | 4% |
|
| ||
| Median total plasma metanephrines, nmol/L (range) | 14.3 (3–223) | Median of 2.2–12.4 (0.4–397)# |
|
| ||
| Median total urinary metanephrines, nmol/L | 43000 (10030–494681) | Median of 6849–23176 (221–674816)# |
|
| ||
| Adrenalectomy, % | ||
| Laparoscopic | 48% | 76% |
| Open | 52% | 24% |
|
| ||
| Median hospital-stay following surgery, days (range) | 4 (1–17) | 3 (1–32) |
Abbreviations – CT: Computed Tomography, HU: Hounsfield Unit
*
Data from Gruber LM, Hartman RP, Thompson GB, et al. Pheochromocytoma Characteristics and Behavior Differ Depending on Method of Discovery. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(5):1386–1393.
#
Previously reported stratified based on mode of discovery, lowest in patients discovered based on genetic case detection, and highest in patients presenting with symptoms of catecholamine excess. Presented as range of medians.