ABSTRACT
Ordinarily, one doesn't think of urine studies as a means of routinely recognizing, diagnosing, or monitoring cardiovascular disorders. However, a small portion of persons with hypertension may manifest this sign as a result of a tumor of the adrenal medulla which can best be identified by observing increased quantities of catecholamines in the urine. The first pheochromocytoma tumor of the adrenal medulla was described by Albert Fraenckel in 1886, and since that time, well over 1,000 have been reported. The tests for catecholamines and their metabolites have several limitations. One of the primary limitations is the fact that the frequency of positive results is quite low, and because of this there may be a tendency to lose interest in the potential significance of the measurement. Good results from studies of catecholamines in urine are related to having a good understanding of the meaning of the tests and proper interpretation of results.
