Author(s): Mahyar Yousefi
Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumors of adrenal chromaffin cells or extra-adrenal paraganglia. they're difficult to diagnose due to the non-specific clinical symptoms like hypertension, palpitations, flushing and sweating. Inappropriate catecholamines (CAs) production was normally used for the diagnosis of PPGLs within the clinical laboratory. Traditionally, 24-hour urine was used for analysis to permit for intermittent secretion of CAs by PPGLs. The guideline recommends screening of fractionated urinary metanephrines (MNs, the metabolites of CAs) or plasma free MNs using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) or liquid chromatography
