Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors which arise from the adrenal glands or sympathetic neuronal tissue. Malignant transformation of these tumors occurs in a significant proportion and may therefore lower overall survival rates. In patients with PPGLs...

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Main Authors: Korevaar, T, Grossman, AB
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Korevaar, T
Grossman, AB
author_facet Korevaar, T
Grossman, AB
author_sort Korevaar, T
collection OXFORD
description Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors which arise from the adrenal glands or sympathetic neuronal tissue. Malignant transformation of these tumors occurs in a significant proportion and may therefore lower overall survival rates. In patients with PPGLs it is impossible to identify malignant disease without the presence of metastatic disease, something which can occur as long as 20 years after initial surgery. Early identification of malignant disease would necessitate a more aggressive treatment approach, something which may result in better disease outcome. We have therefore reviewed possible predictors of malignancy and current developments in order to help clinicians to swiftly assess malignant potential in patients with PPGLs. Currently, there is no absolute marker which can objectively reflect malignant potential. Tumor size is the most reliable predictor and should therefore be used as the baseline characteristic. The combination of various clinical markers (extra-adrenal disease and post-operative hypertension), biochemical markers (high dopamine, high norepinephrine and epinephrine to total catecholamine ratio) and/or histological markers (SNAIL, microRNAs and/or microarray results) can raise or lower the suspicion of malignancy. Furthermore, we discuss how clinical markers may affect biochemical results linked to malignancy, how biochemical results may distinguish hereditary syndromes, the role of imaging in determining malignant potential and tumor detection, and recent results of proposed histological markers.
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spelling oxford-uuid:679a4e2f-5fca-43b1-875a-a8fead537ec62022-03-26T18:39:23ZPheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:679a4e2f-5fca-43b1-875a-a8fead537ec6EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Korevaar, TGrossman, ABPheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors which arise from the adrenal glands or sympathetic neuronal tissue. Malignant transformation of these tumors occurs in a significant proportion and may therefore lower overall survival rates. In patients with PPGLs it is impossible to identify malignant disease without the presence of metastatic disease, something which can occur as long as 20 years after initial surgery. Early identification of malignant disease would necessitate a more aggressive treatment approach, something which may result in better disease outcome. We have therefore reviewed possible predictors of malignancy and current developments in order to help clinicians to swiftly assess malignant potential in patients with PPGLs. Currently, there is no absolute marker which can objectively reflect malignant potential. Tumor size is the most reliable predictor and should therefore be used as the baseline characteristic. The combination of various clinical markers (extra-adrenal disease and post-operative hypertension), biochemical markers (high dopamine, high norepinephrine and epinephrine to total catecholamine ratio) and/or histological markers (SNAIL, microRNAs and/or microarray results) can raise or lower the suspicion of malignancy. Furthermore, we discuss how clinical markers may affect biochemical results linked to malignancy, how biochemical results may distinguish hereditary syndromes, the role of imaging in determining malignant potential and tumor detection, and recent results of proposed histological markers.
spellingShingle Korevaar, T
Grossman, AB
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title_full Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title_fullStr Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title_full_unstemmed Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title_short Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: assessment of malignant potential.
title_sort pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas assessment of malignant potential
work_keys_str_mv AT korevaart pheochromocytomasandparagangliomasassessmentofmalignantpotential
AT grossmanab pheochromocytomasandparagangliomasassessmentofmalignantpotential