Rare cancers may masquerade as ADHD in children

NIH | JUNE 4, 2016

Rare tumors called pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas may cause the same symptoms as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, leading to inappropriate treatment that could worsen their symptoms and potentially endanger their health.

Rare cancers may masquerade as ADHD in children. Image credit: Sarazyn/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas secrete catecholamines — substances that stimulate the central nervous system. The researchers evaluated 43 children with these tumors from January 2006 to May 2014. Nine of the children (21 percent) had been diagnosed with ADHD before their tumors had been discovered.

Four of these nine kids had been treated with stimulant drugs typically prescribed for ADHD (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate), which caused some to develop headaches, excessive sweating, and hypertension.

After their tumors were removed, three of the nine kids no longer experienced symptoms of ADHD. The study authors suggest that high blood pressure accompanying a diagnosis of ADHD could be a warning sign that the child may have something more than a hyperactivity disorder and that pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas should be on the list of potential causes.

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