Diagnosis for Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Joint Position Statement of the Korean Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Task Force

• DOI: 10.3803/enm.2020.908
• Publication Date: 2021-04-06T06:20:31Z
• Authors: Eu Jeong Ku; Kyoung Jin Kim; Jung Hee Kim; Mi Kyung Kim; Chang Ho Ahn; Kyung Ae Lee; Seung Hun Lee; You-Bin Lee; Kyeong Hye Park; Yun Mi Choi; Namki Hong; A Ram Hong; Sang-Wook Kang; Byung Kwan Park; Moon-Woo Seong; Myungshin Kim; Kyeong Cheon Jung; Chan Kwon Jung; Young Seok Cho; Jin Chul Paeng; Jae Hyeon Kim; Ohk-Hyun Ryu; Yumie Rhee; Chong Hwa Kim; Eun Jig Lee
• Keywords: diagnosis; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; 610; Pheochromocytoma; Classification; RC648-665; pheochromocytoma; Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology; 3. Good health; Paraganglioma; paraganglioma; Special Article; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; classification; Diagnosis; Republic of Korea; Humans; Germ-Line Mutation

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors but can be life-threatening. Although most PPGLs are benign, approximately 10% have metastatic potential. Approximately 40% cases are reported as harboring germline mutations. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis of PPGLs is crucial. For more than 130 years, clinical, molecular, biochemical, radiological, and pathological investigations have been rapidly advanced in the field of PPGLs. However, performing diagnostic studies to localize lesions and detect metastatic potential can be still challenging and complicated. Furthermore, great progress on genetics has shifted the paradigm of genetic testing of PPGLs. The Korean PPGL task force team consisting of the Korean Endocrine Society, the Korean Surgical Society, the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Korean Society of Pathologists, and the Korean Society of Laboratory Medicine has developed this position statement focusing on the comprehensive and updated diagnosis for PPGLs.