I am having extremely high blood pressure and symptoms of Pheochromocytoma. The 24 hour urine collection test and the Plasma test were positive, with the hormone levels very high. I had a CT scan done of my abdomen and pelvis but it didn t show a tumor. I am still having symptoms and my blood pressure is still very high, even on blood pressure medicine. Could the tumor be somewhere else? Why would the hormone levels be very high if there isn t a tumor? My doctor is doing nothing else for me and I am very confused about all of this.
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to Chat Doctor. I carefully read your query. A high vanylmandelic acid and other epinephrine levels in urine are indicative of pheochromocytoma. It is a tumor that generally arises in the Chat Doctor.  However, there is the rest of 10-15% of cases that it can be originated elsewhere in the body, any organ system that has chromatin tissue. If you have sudden rises of blood pressure, which cannot be controlled by medication, and/or angry reaction from time to time, and/or combining of changing of your face color from pale to red and vice versa, this is probably pheochromocytoma. I would recommend that you proceed further with a total body scan and have the above-mentioned urine tests done again. Also, I would recommend a consult with an endocrinologist and a surgeon, after you have your test results back. I hope I was helpful with my answer. Take care.