/fee'oh kroh'moh suy toh"meuh/ , n. , pl. pheochromocytomas, pheochromocytomata /-meuh teuh/ . Pathol.
a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system or adrenal medulla, that produces excess norepinephrine and epinephrine and causes hypertension, headaches, nausea, etc.
[ 1925-30; pheochromocyte a chromaffin cell of the adrenal medulla ( pheochrome chromaffin ( phai ( ós ) dusky + -O- + -CHROME) + -O- + -CYTE) + -OMA; cf. G Phäochromocytom (1912) ]