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Work up neuroblastoma; diagnose pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas and occasional paragangliomas may cause persistent or paroxysmal hypertension. Work up palpitation, severe headache, diaphoresis. Evaluate for possible multiple endocrine adenomatosis type II.
False-negatives and false-positives occur. Since a 24-hour urine collection represents a longer sampling time than a random, or symptom-directed serum sample, and because catecholamine secretion by pheochromocytomas is intermittent, the 24-hour urine test may detect some cases missed by a blood or random urine level.
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The expression “free” in free catecholamine fractionation means unconjugated. This assay is of most value for pheochromocytoma when specimen is collected during a hypertensive episode.
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3. Soldin SJ, Lam G, Pollard A, et al. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of urinary catecholamines employing amperometric detection: Reference values and use in laboratory diagnosis of neural crest tumors. Clin Biochem. 1980; 13(6):285-291. PubMed 7214697
