Malignant Pheochromocytoma: Clinical Course and Treatment

Abstract

Seven patients with 16 malignant pheochromocytomas, with follow-up for 7-21 yr were described. Five patients are free of disease at a mean of 13.5 yr and 2 patients died of malignancy at 10 and 13 yr. The 3 criteria believed important for a maximum tumor free interval are adjunctive lymphadenectomy at the initial operation when 1 or more lymph nodes contain tumor, close followup of all patients with pheochromocytoma by diagnostic biochemical assay for 15 yr and aggressive excision of all single or multiple recurrent pheochromocytomas as soon as a biochemical diagnosis is established.