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Pheochromocytoma Treatment (PDQ®)     
Last Modified: 01/03/2008
Health Professional Version
Stage Information

There is no accepted staging system for pheochromocytoma.

Localized benign

Data suggest that for patients with resectable, benign pheochromocytoma, the overall survival is equal to that of the age-matched normal population.[1,2]

Regional

No information is available at this time.

Metastatic

Data from several series suggest that the 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic, malignant pheochromocytoma is approximately 40%.[1-3] In three retrospective studies of patients with either metastatic or recurrent pheochromocytoma, the 5-year survival ranged from 32% to 60%.[4]

References

  1. Douglass EC, Shapiro DN, Valentine M, et al.: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with the t(2;13): cytogenetic findings and clinicopathologic correlations. Med Pediatr Oncol 21 (2): 83-7, 1993.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  2. Remine WH, Chong GC, Van Heerden JA, et al.: Current management of pheochromocytoma. Ann Surg 179 (5): 740-8, 1974.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  3. van Heerden JA, Sheps SG, Hamberger B, et al.: Pheochromocytoma: current status and changing trends. Surgery 91 (4): 367-73, 1982.  [PUBMED Abstract]

  4. Kvols LK, Perry RR, Vinik AI, et al.: Neoplasms of the neuroendocrine system and neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system. In: Holland JC, Frei E, eds.: Cancer Medicine e.5. 5th ed. Hamilton, Ontario: B.C. Decker Inc, 2000, pp 1121-1172.