Paraganglioma (adrenaline-producing tumor outside the adrenal gland)

Do I need a biopsy

One common mistake is to perform a biopsy when a paragangliomaParaganglioma - a disease where too much adrenaline is being made by a tumor outside the adrenal glands is discovered. This can be disastrous if the tumor is a paraganglioma.⁹ Suspicious masses should never be biopsied unless a paraganglioma has been ruled out with biochemical tests. Even then, a biopsy is rarely helpful or necessary.