First
International Symposium on
Pheochromocytoma
The
First
International Symposium on Pheochromocytoma was held in Bethesda,
Maryland,
on October 20-23, 2005. Dr. Graeme Eisenhofer and Karel Pacak of the
National
Institutes of Health organized and co-chaired this meeting, which
included
180 participants from all over the world. Many patients also attended
this
conference. The first two days were dedicated mainly to scientific
presentations
on several topics. Later there were less formal gatherings of patients
and
support group members. Participants at this symposium were informed of
the
latest scientific discoveries and advances in genetics, diagnosis,
localization,
and pathogenesis of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, and the
management
and treatment of patients with these tumors.
This symposium helped create a better
awareness of the need for consensus evidence-based guidelines for
effective
biochemical diagnosis, localization, and treatment of benign, malignant
and
other forms of pheochromocytoma. It was also an excellent opportunity
for
the exchange of information between researchers, physicians, support
organizations and patients.
The conference focused on several goals
with respect to diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. There is a need to raise
the
awareness of the existence of the illness, the symptoms, and the
availability
of biochemical tests. In addition, there was discussion of the need for
agreement
on diagnostic criteria, especially where diagnostic testing in
concerned.
Topics at the symposium
included:
• Genetics
• Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes
• Molecular pathways of tumorigenesis
• Genotype-phenotype relationships
• Clinical presentation and differential diagnosis
• Biochemical diagnosis
• Tumor localization
• Management of pheochromocytoma
• Model systems
• Diagnostic and prognostic markers of malignant pheochromocytoma
• Treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma
• Patient support
In conclusion, there were discussions
about the future directions of research, how to improve funding and
support
for research on the tumor, and business of the Pheochromocytoma Research
Support Organization
(PRESSOR), including
the
venue and organizers for a subsequent international meeting.
The next conference is scheduled to be
held in Cambridge, England in 2008.
Pheochromocytoma
Organization
Pheochromocytoma
Support Board
