A Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that causes the body to produce higher than normal levels of adrenaline and norepinephrine. It may occur on one or both of the adrenal glands, but it can occur anywhere in the abdomen and cause the excess production. This tumor can be difficult to diagnose because the primary symptom of it tends to be the presence of high blood pressure. If someone is experiencing bothersome symptoms from persistent hypertension, then a test to measure catecholamines is used to determine if a Pheochromocytoma is present.
If there is a family history of these tumors or if the tumor may have been detected on a scan, then this blood test may be ordered. Because many tests may wind up being a false positive, however, not every medical provider may choose to order this particular blood test. The Pheochromocytoma blood test can also detect other neuroendocrine tumors that also release catecholamines.
What Do My Test Results Mean?
In general terms, a positive Pheochromocytoma blood test indicates the presence of a tumor. This can explain the cause of hypertension that may be acute or chronic in nature and a treatment plan may be developed to correct the issue. Because these tumors are so rare, however, it is more likely that a positive result on this blood test is because of elevated stress levels, the recent presence of a serious illness, or emotional trauma.
To confirm whether or not the Pheochromocytoma blood test results are a true positive or a false positive, the test results are combined with the information gathered from a physical examination and interview. A person’s diet, medications, physical health overall, and current emotional state are all evaluated. If there are issues present which could affect the test results, a second test may be ordered at a future date when the contributing factors are eliminated.
The one exception to this involves patients that have had a confirmed Pheochromocytoma in the past. A positive test result generally indicates that the initial tumor was never fully eradicated or that a new tumor has developed and appropriate treatment adjustments should be made.
False negatives may also occur with the Pheochromocytoma blood test. If someone has a tumor that has not produced an adrenal increase and higher blood pressure, then the test results may appear to be normal.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Pheochromocytomas
Even though this is a tumor of the abdomen or adrenal glands, almost every single one of them has been benign. There may be more than one of these tumors present. The amount of catecholamines that are detected on the Pheochromocytoma blood test do not indicate how large a tumor may be or how many of them there are. The test cannot determine malignancy either, so a biopsy on a confirmed tumor is generally considered to be a standard procedure.
Certain foods, beverages, and medications can interfere with the Pheochromocytoma blood test. Common items are over the counter painkillers like NSAIDs or acetaminophen, coffee or any form of caffeine, alcohol, insulin, diet pills, and certain antidepressants. Because of this, a medical provider may request fasting periods of various lengths based on lifestyle habits and current medications.
Be sure to follow all instructions provided so that accurate results may be obtained.
Only 10% of Pheochromocytoma are found in the abdomen instead of the adrenal glands. There are no proactive preventions that can be done to prevent the development of this tumor, but it can typically be removed safely.
Being anxious or afraid about your test results can actually affect your results. Catecholamines are released whenever someone is worried or afraid, so do your best to relax as much as possible before the blood sample is taken. Some medical providers may wish to collect urine samples over the course of 24 hours to compare with the Pheochromocytoma blood test results to counter this fact.
The Pheochromocytoma blood test can help to explain certain cases of high blood pressure that seem to come out of nowhere. It can also be used to catch a rare, but unique malignancy that involves the adrenal glands when the Pheochromocytomas happen to be malignant. If you are feeling short of breath, unusually fatigued, have high blood pressure, or may be emotionally irritable and it is persistent, then consider scheduling an appointment with a medical provider to discuss this topic. Though rare, it could be the first step toward finding the answers you need.