ABSTRACT
Phaeochromocytoma is a tumour arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Ninety per cent occur in the adrenal gland and 10 per cent in ectopic extra-adrenal locations. Phaeochromocytoma may also be discovered due to a hypertensive crisis brought on by surgery or some other stress. Ten per cent arise as part of a syndrome, example multiple endocrine neoplasia, familial phaeochromocytoma, tuberous sclerosis, and Von Hippel–Lindau disease, neurofibromatosis. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen, with particular attention to the adrenal glands is the initial imaging investigation of choice in the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma. Patients with an incidentally discovered adrenal mass should be assessed for clinical evidence of Cushing syndrome and hypertension; depending on the clinical findings, biochemical screening for Cushing syndrome, hyperaldosteronism or phaeochromocytoma may be indicated. CT or magnetic resonance imaging may be used to outline the anatomy of large goitres prior to surgical removal, particularly where there is retrosternal extension into the upper mediastinum.
