PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What are the classic symptoms of pheochromocytoma?

1. Episodic dizziness and weight loss

2. Nausea, vomiting, and malaise

3. Palpitations, headache, episodic diaphoresis, and hypertension

4. Abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements

The correct answer is: Palpitations, headache, episodic diaphoresis, and hypertension

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal gland that secretes catecholamines, leading to characteristic symptoms due to excessive levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The classic symptoms associated with pheochromocytoma include palpitations, which result from increased heart rate, headache due to elevated blood pressure, episodic diaphoresis (profuse sweating), and hypertension that can occur in sudden paroxysms. Each of these symptoms is directly related to the excess secretion of catecholamines. Palpitations are commonly experienced as the heart rate increases, while headaches often stem from the marked elevations in blood pressure. The episodes of diaphoresis are a response to adrenergic stimulation, and hypertension may present as a crisis when catecholamine release is particularly high. The other choices list symptoms that are not typically associated with pheochromocytoma. For instance, episodic dizziness and weight loss are not hallmark signs of the condition. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and malaise also do not reflect the primary manifestations of this adrenal tumor. Abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements are similarly unrelated to the classic symptom profile of pheochromocytoma. Therefore, the combination of palpitations, headache, diaphoresis