Question:
VMA is excreted in the urine in which condition?
VMA is excreted in the urine in which condition?
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VMA is a catecholamine breakdown product - which tumour overproduces catecholamines?
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Alkaptonuria
- Phenylketonuria
- Pheochromocytoma
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is the final end product of the catabolism of the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Step 2: In pheochromocytoma (and in neuroblastoma) the tumour cells overproduce catecholamines. This drives increased catecholamine breakdown, so urinary VMA rises and can be measured.
Step 3: Urinary VMA is therefore a classic screening test for pheochromocytoma and is also used to diagnose and follow up neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma. Hence the answer is Pheochromocytoma.
Step 4: The distractors involve other metabolic pathways: alkaptonuria gives homogentisic acid in urine, phenylketonuria gives phenylpyruvate and phenylketones, and diabetic ketoacidosis gives ketone bodies - none of these raise VMA.
Step 2: In pheochromocytoma (and in neuroblastoma) the tumour cells overproduce catecholamines. This drives increased catecholamine breakdown, so urinary VMA rises and can be measured.
Step 3: Urinary VMA is therefore a classic screening test for pheochromocytoma and is also used to diagnose and follow up neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma. Hence the answer is Pheochromocytoma.
Step 4: The distractors involve other metabolic pathways: alkaptonuria gives homogentisic acid in urine, phenylketonuria gives phenylpyruvate and phenylketones, and diabetic ketoacidosis gives ketone bodies - none of these raise VMA.
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