Labordiagnostik katecholamin-produzierender tumoren

Abstract

Pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and neuroblastoma are rare neuroendocrine tumors characterized by elevated production of catecholamines. The catecholamines are O-methylated to metanephrines in tumor cells, explaining their high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Age-adjusted reference values of normetanephrine, the O-methylated metabolite of norepinephrine, are useful for improving diagnostic specificity. Among available methods for measuring plasma metanephrines, liquid chromatographic based analyses are the most accurate and precise. For screening of neuroblastoma, measurements of vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid in urine remain the most commonly used tests, but have limited diagnostic sensitivity. For such childhood tumors there is a need for new and improved biomarkers for diagnosis. © 2013 Walter de Gruyter GmbH.