American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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Prepare for the ABS QE with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Start your journey to becoming a certified surgeon and tackle your exam with confidence!

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What is the most prominent symptom associated with pheochromocytomas?

Hypertension
Weight loss
Fever
Hyperglycemia

The correct answer is: Hypertension

Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors derived from chromaffin cells, typically located in the adrenal gland, and they are known for secreting catecholamines, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. The most prominent symptom associated with these tumors is hypertension, which occurs due to the excessive production of these hormones leading to increased blood pressure. When these tumors secrete catecholamines, they can cause paroxysmal episodes of hypertension that may present as sudden spikes in blood pressure, often accompanied by symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, and sweating. The hypertensive episodes can be triggered by stress, physical activity, or even specific actions like changing body position. While weight loss, fever, and hyperglycemia can also occur in various clinical contexts, they are not primary symptoms associated with pheochromocytomas. Weight loss may happen due to metabolic changes or increased catecholamine levels, fever is generally not a feature of this condition, and hyperglycemia can occur due to stress responses or glucocorticoid involvement but is not characteristic of pheochromocytomas. Therefore, hypertension remains the hallmark symptom that is crucial for diagnosis and management of this condition.