Familial Syndromes and Genetic Causes of Paraganglioma and Phaeochromocytoma

A phaeochromocytoma is a tumour arising from the adrenal medulla and a paraganglioma refers to its extra-adrenal counterpart, which can develop from sympathetic or parasympathetic tissue anywhere from the skull base to the pelvis. Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) are considered to be the most heritable tumours as up to 40% of patients who develop these tumours have a hereditary predisposition. This chapter provides an update on the clinical and molecular genetics of PPGL and related syndromes, as well as offering a guideline for genetic testing and surveillance of those individuals identified as carriers for a known PPGL predisposition gene.