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Meaning of phaeochromocytoma in English:

phaeochromocytoma

Pronunciation /ˌfiːə(ʊ)ˌkrəʊmə(ʊ)sʌɪˈtəʊmə/

nounphaeochromocytomas, phaeochromocytomata

Medicine

  • A small vascular tumour of the adrenal medulla, causing irregular secretion of adrenalin and noradrenaline leading to attacks of raised blood pressure, palpitations, and headache.

Origin

1920s from phaeochrome (another term for chromaffin), from Greek phaios ‘dusky’ + khrōma ‘colour’, + -cyte.