Chromaffinoma [Chromaffinoma; Chromaffino(Cit) + -Om]

Chromaffinoma

Chromaffinoma [chromaffinoma; chromaffin(cyt) + -om] is a tumor that develops from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Chromaffinoma is synonymous with the term pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a benign tumor of chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla that produces catecholamines. These tumors are most often localized in the adrenal medulla, less often in the sympathetic ganglia or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue.

Clinically, pheochromocytoma manifests itself as paroxysmal arterial hypertension caused by the release of catecholamines by the tumor. The diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory tests based on elevated levels of catecholamines and their metabolites in the blood and urine. Treatment consists of surgical removal of the tumor.

Thus, the terms chromaffinoma and pheochromocytoma are synonymous and denote a benign tumor of chromaffin cells of the adrenal gland that produces catecholamines.