TUMORS of the pheochromic cell arising in the adrenal medulla and producing a well established hormonal symptom-complex are occasionally encountered. The pheochromocyte or the cell of origin of this tumor is the result of differentiation of the sympathogonia or sympathetic formative cells into two systems, the future ganglion cell (nervous) and the pheochromocyte (endocrine). Sympathicoblastoma, neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma are tumors arising in the ganglion cells in various stages of its maturation (13). They are non-hormonal and produce only signs and symptoms referable to the formation of a mass with pressure on surrounding structures. They are usually malignant and occur in infancy or early childhood (10). The pheochromocytoma arises from mature cells which have differentiated from the primitive sympathogonia to form the endocrine portion of the adrenal medulla. The differentiation usually takes place during late fetal development and may not be complete until the time of puberty (14). The mother ...
