Question 227

Question:

An asymptomatic 50-year-old woman has hypertension. Her urinary excretion of catecholamines is increased. A CT scan shows a suprarenal mass. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Correct Answer: B.  Benign neoplasm of the adrenal medulla

Increased urinary excretion of catecholamines suggests increased production of catecholamines, a process that occurs in the adrenal medulla.
(You should know the various layers of the adrenal glands and the respective hormones produced in each layer.)
The patient presents with symptoms of hypertension secondary to a suprarenal mass, consistent with a pheochromocytoma. You should know that such masses are much more commonly benign (only 10% malignant).
Therefore (B) benign neoplasm of the adrenal medulla is the most likely cause.