Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine secreting tumors that originate from the chromaffin cells in adrenal glands. Nevertheless, they may localize in any part of the symphatic ring from cranium to gonads. Fraenkel described the disease in 1886 for the first time. 20 pheochromocytoma cases were diagnosed and treated in our clinic between the years of 1985 and1990. Diagnosis was made during the search for the etiology of hypertension. The youngest patient was 17; the oldest was 50 years old. The mean age was 34.6.All the tumors originated from the adrenal glands. The ratio of female to male was originated from the adrenal glands. The ratio of female to male was 1/1. Histopathological examinations showed malignancy in 4 cases. The tumors were found bilaterally in 2 cases. None of the patients had hypertension after the operation. Our choice of treatment was total adrenalectomy in all cases. Postoperative mortality rate was zero.