Catecholamine Tumor: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options
When your body makes too much of the stress hormones catecholamines, chemicals like adrenaline and noradrenaline that trigger fight-or-flight responses. Also known as adrenaline surges, they can turn normal daily life into a health emergency. This happens most often with rare tumors called pheochromocytoma, a tumor that grows on the adrenal gland and overproduces catecholamines, or paraganglioma, a similar tumor that forms outside the adrenal gland, often near the spine or neck. These aren’t common, but when they happen, they’re serious—untreated, they can cause strokes, heart attacks, or sudden death.
Most people with these tumors don’t know they have one until they get hit with sudden, intense symptoms: pounding heart, sweating that soaks clothes, headaches that feel like a vice grip, and blood pressure that spikes out of nowhere. These episodes can last minutes or hours, then vanish just as fast. That’s why they’re often mistaken for panic attacks, anxiety, or even menopause. But if you’ve had three or more unexplained episodes like this—especially if you’re under 50—it’s worth asking about a catecholamine tumor. Blood and urine tests can spot elevated levels of these hormones, and imaging like CT or MRI finds the tumor itself.
What makes these tumors tricky is that they’re not always cancerous, but they still demand urgent care. Surgery is the main fix—removing the tumor usually cures the problem. But before surgery, doctors must carefully control blood pressure with specific medications, because even a minor bump or stress can trigger a deadly surge. If the tumor is cancerous or can’t be removed, treatment shifts to managing symptoms and slowing growth with drugs like alpha-blockers or targeted therapies. Regular follow-ups are key, because these tumors can come back, even years later.
You won’t find these tumors in every doctor’s office, but if you’ve had unexplained high blood pressure, sudden heart palpitations, or episodes of extreme sweating with no clear cause, you’re not alone. Many people live for years with these symptoms before getting the right diagnosis. The posts below cover real cases, lab tests that catch these tumors early, how surgery works, what medications help manage symptoms, and how to spot the warning signs before it’s too late. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or just someone who’s had weird health scares, this collection gives you the facts you need to ask the right questions and get answers.
