pheochromocytoma

[ fee-oh-kroh-moh-sahy-toh-muh ]
/ ˌfi oʊˌkroʊ moʊ saɪˈtoʊ mə /

noun, plural phe·o·chro·mo·cy·to·mas, phe·o·chro·mo·cy·to·ma·ta [fee-oh-kroh-moh-sahy-toh-muh-tuh] /ˌfi oʊˌkroʊ moʊ saɪˈtoʊ mə tə/. Pathology.

a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system or adrenal medulla, that produces excess norepinephrine and epinephrine and causes hypertension, headaches, nausea, etc.

Origin of pheochromocytoma

1925–30; pheochromocyte a chromaffin cell of the adrenal medulla ( pheochrome chromaffin (< Greek phai(ós) dusky + -o- + -chrome) + -o- + -cyte) + -oma; compare German Phäochromocytom (1912)

Words nearby pheochromocytoma

Medical definitions for pheochromocytoma

pheochromocytoma
[ fē′ō-krō′mō-sī-tōmə ]

n. pl. phe•o•chro•mo•cy•to•mas

A usually benign tumor of the adrenal medulla or the sympathetic nervous system in which the affected cells secrete increased amounts of epinephrine or norepinephrine.