Abstract | BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pheochromocytomas requires consideration among patients suffering from hypertension, unexplained spells, incidental adrenal masses, or a family history of pheochromocytoma. Accordingly, the diagnosis requires a biochemical test with high sensitivity and specificity. AIM: To compare plasma free metanephrines as measured by a commercial immunoassay and the 24-hour urinary excretion of catecholamines. METHOD: RESULTS: CONCLUSION: Measurement of plasma free metanephrines by immunoassay appears to be a useful diagnostic test in patients suspected of pheochromocytoma, with a high specificity as compared with urinary catecholamines. The latter may result in fewer false-positive findings, an outcome which may be particularly troublesome.
|
Authors | Trine T Christensen, Jan Frystyk, Per L Poulsen |
Journal | Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
(Scand J Clin Lab Invest)
Vol. 71
Issue 8
Pg. 695-700
(Dec 2011)
ISSN: 1502-7686 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22023043
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Chemical References |
- Catecholamines
- Normetanephrine
- Metanephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Epinephrine
|
Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adrenal Gland Neoplasms
(blood, diagnosis, pathology, urine)
- Adrenal Glands
(pathology)
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Catecholamines
(urine)
- Child
- Denmark
- Epinephrine
(blood, urine)
- Female
- Ganglioneuroma
(blood, diagnosis, pathology, urine)
- Humans
- Immunoassay
- Male
- Metanephrine
(blood)
- Middle Aged
- Norepinephrine
(blood, urine)
- Normetanephrine
(blood, urine)
- Paraganglioma
(blood, diagnosis, pathology, urine)
- Pheochromocytoma
(blood, diagnosis, pathology, urine)
- ROC Curve
|