A tumor of the adrenal medulla causing excessive secretion of catecholamines and resulting in hypertension is a ______.

• A. Leiomyoma
• B. Sarcoma
• C. Pheochromocytoma
• D. Pituitary tumor

Answer: (C)

The main concept is a tumor that arises from adrenal medulla and secretes catecholamines, leading to high blood pressure. This fits pheochromocytoma, a neuroendocrine tumor of adrenal medulla cells (chromaffin cells) that overproduces epinephrine and norepinephrine. Those catecholamines cause vasoconstriction and increased heart rate, which raises blood pressure and can produce episodic headaches, sweating, and tachycardia.

Other tumors listed don’t explain excess catecholamine–driven hypertension. Leiomyoma is a smooth muscle tumor (often uterine) with no typical catecholamine secretion. Sarcoma is a malignant tumor of connective tissue. Pituitary tumors cause overproduction of pituitary hormones (like ACTH, growth hormone, prolactin) but not adrenal medulla catecholamine excess, so they don’t directly explain the hypertensive episodes from catecholamines.

So the correct description is pheochromocytoma.