Pheochromocytoma Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Michael A Blake, MBBCh, MRCPI, FRCR; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 12, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Differentials to consider in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma include the following:

  • Alcohol withdrawal
  • Labile essential hypertension
  • Hyperventilation
  • Orthostatic hypotension
  • Multiple pharmacologic agents (monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAOIs], decongestants, sympathomimetics)
  • Illegal drug use (phencyclidine [PCP], lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], cocaine)
  • Migraine headache
  • Autonomic neuropathy
  • Stroke
  • Toxemia of pregnancy
  • Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome
  • Acute intermittent porphyria
  • Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
  • Renovascular hypertension
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Lead toxicity

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Michael A Blake, MBBCh, MRCPI, FRCR  Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School; Staff Radiologist, Division of Abdominal Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital

Michael A Blake, MBBCh, MRCPI, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Disclosure: Springer Royalty book editor

Coauthor(s)

Ann T Sweeney, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Tufts University School of Medicine

Ann T Sweeney, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  Professor of Endocrinology, Director of Training Program, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Strelitz Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD  Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine

George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author James C Melby, MD, to the development and writing of the source article.

References

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Axial, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showing large left suprarenal mass of high signal intensity on a T2-weighted image. The mass is a pheochromocytoma.
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrating left suprarenal mass of soft-tissue attenuation representing a paraganglioma.
 
 
 
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