What to do if pheochromocytoma recurs after surgery

Recurrence of pheochromocytoma after surgery requires re-surgical treatment and medication (e.g., prazosin, phenobarbital, and phentolamine), and patients with recurrence need to go to regular hospitals in time. After the diagnosis and localization of pheochromocytoma, the tumor should be removed as soon as possible because pheochromocytoma secretes catechol in large quantities, which has the risk of triggering hypertensive crisis. Since there is no method to prevent the recurrence of pheochromocytoma, it is recommended to go to regular institutions or hospitals for regular rechecks after the operation, so as to achieve early detection and early treatment. Benign pheochromocytoma generally does not recur after surgery, usually, it is the patient’s adrenal gland subtotal resection or tumor removal. For patients who cannot be operated, or whose malignant pheochromocytoma has spread, the main medications are long-acting α-blockers, such as prazosin and phenobarbital, and when pheochromocytoma is combined with hypertensive emergencies, phentolamine can be injected intravenously.