OBJECTIVES: Detection of free plasma metanephrines seems to be the most exact method for biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, but their diagnostic efficacy in the common low-risk clinical settings is debated. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentre study including 1260 subjects assessed the diagnostic efficacy of free plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine in low-risk patients screened for resistant or markedly accelerated hypertension, paroxysmal hypertension, 'flushes' and, in a small proportion, for adrenal incidentaloma or genetic predisposition to pheochromocytoma. RESULTS: Pheochromocytoma was identified and verified by histology in 25 subjects (2%), with the diagnosis not confirmed by long-term follow-up or use of imaging techniques in the remaining 1235 individuals. The combined assay of free plasma metanephrines was a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (96.7%) measure, yielding a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: The satisfactory diagnostic efficacy of free plasma metanephrines allows their use as a single screening test in cases of suspected pheochromocytoma in the population with a low pretest probability.
OBJECTIVES: Detection of free plasma metanephrines seems to be the most exact method for biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, but their diagnostic efficacy in the common low-risk clinical settings is debated. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentre study including 1260 subjects assessed the diagnostic efficacy of free plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine in low-risk patients screened for resistant or markedly accelerated hypertension, paroxysmal hypertension, 'flushes' and, in a small proportion, for adrenal incidentaloma or genetic predisposition to pheochromocytoma. RESULTS:Pheochromocytoma was identified and verified by histology in 25 subjects (2%), with the diagnosis not confirmed by long-term follow-up or use of imaging techniques in the remaining 1235 individuals. The combined assay of free plasma metanephrines was a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (96.7%) measure, yielding a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: The satisfactory diagnostic efficacy of free plasma metanephrines allows their use as a single screening test in cases of suspected pheochromocytoma in the population with a low pretest probability.
Authors: Roland Därr; Matthias Kuhn; Christoph Bode; Stefan R Bornstein; Karel Pacak; Jacques W M Lenders; Graeme Eisenhofer Journal: Endocrine Date: 2017-04-12 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: Tomás P Griffin; Delia Bogdanet; Patrick Navin; Grace Callagy; Paula M O'Shea; Marcia Bell Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2018-02-19 Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: Graeme Eisenhofer; Peter Lattke; Maria Herberg; Gabriele Siegert; Nan Qin; Roland Därr; Jana Hoyer; Arno Villringer; Aleksander Prejbisz; Andrzej Januszewicz; Alan Remaley; Victoria Martucci; Karel Pacak; H Alec Ross; Fred C G J Sweep; Jacques W M Lenders Journal: Ann Clin Biochem Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 2.057
Authors: Jacques W M Lenders; Karel Pacak; Thanh-Truc Huynh; Yehonatan Sharabi; Massimo Mannelli; Gennady Bratslavsky; David S Goldstein; Stefan R Bornstein; Graeme Eisenhofer Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2009-11-06 Impact factor: 5.958