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Letters Phaeochromocytoma

Interpret metanephrine results in light of clinical indications

BMJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2456 (Published 02 April 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e2456
  1. Stewart J Pattman, chemical pathology/metabolic medicine specialist registrar1,
  2. Andrew Davison, principal clinical biochemist2,
  3. Steve Ball, consultant endocrinologist1
  1. 1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
  2. 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  1. stewart.pattman{at}nuth.nhs.uk

Jones and colleagues highlight the importance of making the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma.1 We support their approach of initially undertaking biochemical investigations, but they do not deal clearly with sampling, patient preparation, and clinical indications for the test, which are essential for interpreting results.

Metanephrine concentrations should be interpreted differently in patients with rare genetic …

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