Further Observations on the Determination of Catecholamine Metabolites in Tumours of Sympathetic Nervous System

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Abstract
Some products of catecholamine metabolism are determined quantitatively in the urine of patients with various tumors. No abnormalities could be found in non-neural malignant tumors and in the 6 ganglioneuromas examined. On the other hand, not only the pheochromocytomas but 45 out of 48 neuroblastomas and a malignant hypernephroid and paraganglionic tumor of the adrenal gland showed increased vanillyl-mandelic acid excretion. In addition, pathological homovanillic acid values are found in 13 of 16 neuroblastomas and in the atypical tumor, but never in the pheochromocytomas. Finally investigations of 19 neuroblastomas revealed that in addition to the anomalies mentioned above and in contrast to other tumors, increased amounts of dopa, dopamine, noradrenaline and normetanephrine are frequently excreted. This observation is not only of theoretical interest but also has differential diagnostic value.