A screening test for phaeochromocytoma.

The role of urinary fractionated metanephrines in the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Plasma and urinary metanephrines are used as screening tests for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma. The recommended cut-off levels are not standardized. This study was conducted to identify a cut-off level for 24 h urinary fractionated metanephrines viz. metanephrine (uMN) and normetanephrine (uNMN) using enzyme immunoassay for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma. METH...

Ethambutol and a false-positive screening test for phaeochromocytoma.

Single-centre study of the diagnostic performance of plasma metanephrines with seated sampling for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma.

Background Measurement of plasma metanephrines is regarded as one of the best screening tests for phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma. Current guidelines recommend that samples are ideally collected in the supine position after 30 min rest and interpreted using supine reference ranges, in order to optimize the diagnostic performance of the test. Current practice in our centre is to collect samples ...

Disease-modifying polymorphisms and C609Y mutation of RET associated with high penetrance of phaeochromocytoma and low rate of MTC in MEN2A

Mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene, located on chromosome 10q11.2, cause multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A). Patients with mutations at the codon 609 usually exhibit a high penetrance of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), but a sufficiently low penetrance of phaeochromocytoma that screening for this latter complication has been called to question. Patien...

Biochemical tests for diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma: urinary versus plasma determinations.

Fifteen patients with hypertension due to phaeochromocytoma and 35 controls with essential hypertension were studied to assess the diagnostic value of urinary and plasma biochemical determinations in phaeochromocytoma. In every case of phaeochromocytoma the urinary concentration of vanillylmandelate, metanephrines, or adrenaline plus noradrenaline was diagnostic of the disease irrespective of w...