The metanephrines are a group of molecules consisting of

metanephrine Metanephrine, also known as metadrenaline, is a metabolite of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) created by action of catechol-O-methyl transferase on epinephrine. An article in the ''Journal of the American Medical Association'', 2002, indi ...

and

normetanephrine Normetanephrine, also called normetadrenaline, is a metabolite of norepinephrine created by action of catechol-O-methyl transferase on norepinephrine. It is excreted in the urine and found in certain tissues. It is a marker for catecholamine-secr ...

. An article in the ''

Journal of the American Medical Association ''JAMA'' (''The Journal of the American Medical Association'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of ...

'', 2002, indicated that the measurement of plasma free levels of metanephrines is the best tool in the diagnosis of

pheochromocytoma Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla composed of chromaffin cells and is part of the paraganglioma (PGL) family of tumors, being defined as an intra-adrenal PGL. These neuroendocrine tumors can be sympathetic, where they relea ...

, an adrenal medullary

neoplasm A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

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References

Phenol ethers Phenylethanolamines Tumor markers {{Amine-stub