Pheochromocytoma Quiz: Diagnostic & Nursing Care

1. What is the most specific test for diagnosing pheochromocytoma?

Serum catecholamines

24-hour urine metanephrines

Plasma free metanephrines

Random blood pressure readings

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3. After surgical removal of a pheochromocytoma, repeat urine metanephrines should normalize within:

24 hours

1 week

2-4 weeks

3 months

4. Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality in pheochromocytoma due to catecholamine-induced potassium shifts.

True

False

5. Phenoxybenzamine should be discontinued how long before surgery to prevent hypotension?

1-2 days before

3-5 days before

1 week before

2 weeks before

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7. Which clinical finding would NOT be expected in pheochromocytoma?

Paroxysmal hypertension

Pallor during attacks

Persistent hypertension

Hypotension and bradycardia

8. MIBG scintigraphy is used to detect pheochromocytoma metastases.

True

False

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10. A patient with confirmed pheochromocytoma undergoes surgical resection. What critical complication must be monitored immediately postoperatively?

Sudden hypertension from catecholamine release

Hypotension from sudden hormone withdrawal

Hyperglycemia from insulin suppression

Hypothermia from anesthesia

11. A 45-year-old patient presents with sudden-onset severe headache, diaphoresis, and chest pain. BP is 180/110 mmHg. What is the classic triad of pheochromocytoma?

Headache, profuse sweating, palpitations

Chest pain, tremor, anxiety

Flushing, weight loss, tachycardia

Pallor, abdominal pain, fever

12. Pheochromocytoma is associated with which genetic syndromes? Select all that apply.

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2

Von Hippel-Lindau disease

Marfan syndrome

Neurofibromatosis type 1

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13. A patient with pheochromocytoma experiences a hypertensive crisis. Which medication provides rapid vasodilation?

Esmolol

Sodium nitroprusside

Labetalol

Hydralazine

14. Beta-blockers should be started before alpha-blockers in pheochromocytoma management.

True

False

15. Which alpha-blocker is commonly used preoperatively to manage hypertension in pheochromocytoma?

Metoprolol

Phenoxybenzamine

Nifedipine

Lisinopril

16. What percentage of pheochromocytomas are bilateral?

Less than 5%

10-15%

25-30%

Over 50%

17. Pheochromocytomas arise from which embryologic tissue?

Adrenal cortex

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla

Sympathetic ganglia only

Posterior pituitary

18. A patient's plasma free metanephrines are elevated. Which imaging study localizes the tumor?

Chest X-ray

CT or MRI of abdomen and pelvis

Ultrasound of thyroid

Bone scan

19. The 24-hour urine metanephrines test is the preferred initial diagnostic test for pheochromocytoma.

True

False

20. Which hormone is excessively secreted by a pheochromocytoma?

Insulin

Catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

Cortisol

Thyroid hormone

Pheochromocytoma Quiz: Can You Catch the Surge?

1. What is the most specific test for diagnosing pheochromocytoma?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Long-term follow-up after pheochromocytoma surgery includes periodic screening for _____ to detect recurrence.

3. After surgical removal of a pheochromocytoma, repeat urine metanephrines should normalize within:

4. Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality in pheochromocytoma due to catecholamine-induced potassium shifts.

5. Phenoxybenzamine should be discontinued how long before surgery to prevent hypotension?

6. A 50-year-old patient with pheochromocytoma reports anxiety, tremor, and heat intolerance. These symptoms result from excess _____ activity.

7. Which clinical finding would NOT be expected in pheochromocytoma?

8. MIBG scintigraphy is used to detect pheochromocytoma metastases.

9. The adrenal medulla produces excess _____ in pheochromocytoma.

10. A patient with confirmed pheochromocytoma undergoes surgical resection. What critical complication must be monitored immediately postoperatively?

11. A 45-year-old patient presents with sudden-onset severe headache, diaphoresis, and chest pain. BP is 180/110 mmHg. What is the classic triad of pheochromocytoma?

12. Pheochromocytoma is associated with which genetic syndromes? Select all that apply.

13. A patient with pheochromocytoma experiences a hypertensive crisis. Which medication provides rapid vasodilation?

14. Beta-blockers should be started before alpha-blockers in pheochromocytoma management.

15. Which alpha-blocker is commonly used preoperatively to manage hypertension in pheochromocytoma?

16. What percentage of pheochromocytomas are bilateral?

17. Pheochromocytomas arise from which embryologic tissue?

18. A patient's plasma free metanephrines are elevated. Which imaging study localizes the tumor?

19. The 24-hour urine metanephrines test is the preferred initial diagnostic test for pheochromocytoma.

20. Which hormone is excessively secreted by a pheochromocytoma?