Phaeochromocytoma: Experience with 12 cases in Tikur Anbessa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: The incidence of phaeochromocytomas in Europe and the USA is well documentea. From Africa, including Ethiopia, there are few reports on the disease. This paper describes 12 cases of phaeochrocytomas managed in Tikur Anbessa Hospital Addis Ababa between 1981 and 2001 inclusive.
Methods: A retrospective study of 40 patients undergoing adrenalectomy during the years under review was undertaken. The indications for surgery were Cushing's Syndromes in 24 cases, Phaeochromocytoma in 12 and adrenocortical tumours in 4 patients.This paper describes our experience with the management of the twelve patients with the phaeochromocytomas.
Resu1ts: The patients' ages ranged between 21 and 60 years. There were 5 males and 7 females. The majority of patients presented with clinical features related to episodic elevation of cathecolamines. Vanilylmandelic acid (VMA) in 24 hour urine was elevated in 10 patients. Localization of the tumours was made by ultrasonography or on exploration. The phaeochromocytomas were unilateral in 10 cases, seven of them on the left side. One patient had bilateral turnours and one other patient had an ectopic tumour. The tumours were operated through transabdominal or lower transthoracic approach.