National Institutes Of Health: Rare Forms Of Cancer Can Be Misdiagnosed As ADHD In Children

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers have found that rare cancer tumors called pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas can possibly have the same symptoms as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Due to this similarity, misdiagnosis can happen and improper treatment may be given to children.

The researchers analyzed 43 children who were found to have the cancer tumors from January 2006 to May 2014. Nine of the children were diagnosed with ADHD before this.

Four of the children had worse symptoms after using ADHD drugs amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and/or methylphenidate, RT reported. Meanwhile, three of them stopped exhibiting ADHD symptoms once their cancerous tumors were removed.

Rare cancers share symptoms with #ADHD in children - RT America - https://t.co/xqjNc7Wsi2 #Cancer @Beyond_ADHD pic.twitter.com/isWg9ZWisw

— Rasta ^TM (@NSRasta) May 16, 2016

Cancer Should Be Ruled Out In Children With ADHD Symptoms

As per RT, the researchers said that "in pediatric patients with hypertension and ADHD symptomatology, an evaluation to rule out PHEO (pheochromocytomas ) /PGL (paragangliomas) is warranted prior to treatment with stimulant medications." The NIH said that pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are cancer tumors that produce catecholamines or substances that rouse the body's central nervous system. 

Misdiagnosis as ADHD would mean lost time for cancer treatment for the children, according to Blasting News. This is a big issue for the health of the children that pediatricians and parents have to deal with. The children would be taking medication for ADHD which are reportedly power nervous system stimulants that can possibly have side effects such as hypertension.

PHEO and PGL Very Rare Cancers

The researchers said that pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors. In the United States, only 1 in around 2,500-6,500 have these tumors. In the case of children, 1-2 percent of hypertension cases can be traced to pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

The study, titled Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pediatric patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, was published in Hormone and Metabolic Research. There were eight authors, including Maya Lodish, a pediatric endocrinologist in the Division of Intramural Research at NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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