How Is Pheochromocytoma Diagnosed?

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are usually diagnosed using blood or urine tests that measure the level of metabolic products (from chemical reactions) called metanephrines and normetanephrines, which are hormones released by the tumor. Levels of more than 2-fold above normal usually indicate the presence of the tumor.

Tumor localization testing is sometimes used to confirm urine or blood test results. For patients with a hereditary predisposition or a previous history of the condition, tumor localization testing is highly recommended. The most commonly used tumor localization tests include computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).