Pheochromocytoma in Urologic Practice.

CONTEXT: Pheochromocytoma is regularly encountered in urological practice and requires a thoughtful and careful clinical approach.

OBJECTIVE

To review clinical aspects of management of pheochromocytoma in urologic practice.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic review of English-language literature was performed through year 2015 using the Medline database. Manuscripts were selected with consensus of the coauthors and evaluated using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Findings and recommendations of the evaluated manuscripts are discussed with an emphasis on the description of presentation, diagnosis, evaluation, and perioperative care.

CONCLUSION

In addition to surgical expertise, appropriate management of pheochromocytoma in urologic practice requires nuanced understanding of pathophysiology, genetics, and endocrinological principles. When skillfully managed, the vast majority of patients with pheochromocytoma should expect an excellent prognosis.

PATIENT SUMMARY: In this article we review the clinical approach to patients with pheochromocytoma, a tumor that stems from the innermost part of the adrenal gland and that often secretes excessive amounts of powerful hormones such as noradrenaline and adrenaline. Significant expertise is required to appropriately manage patients with these tumors.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: In addition to surgical expertise, appropriate management of pheochromocytoma in urologic practice requires nuanced understanding of pathophysiology, genetics, and endocrinological principles. When skillfully managed, vast majority of patients with pheochromocytoma should expect an excellent prognosis.