Question

Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is excreted in urine in which condition?

• A. Alkaptonuria
• B. Phenylketonuria
• C. Pheochromocytoma
• D. Diabetic ketoacidosis

Hint:

VMA is a catecholamine metabolite, so think of a catecholamine-secreting tumour.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify what VMA represents. It is the final breakdown product of the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline, cleared into the urine.

Step 2: Now ask which listed disease floods the body with catecholamines. A pheochromocytoma, an adrenal medullary tumour, secretes excess catecholamines, so their catabolism yields high urinary VMA. That makes pheochromocytoma the answer.

Step 3: This is why measuring urinary VMA (and metanephrines) screens for pheochromocytoma and helps monitor neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma.

Step 4: Match the others to their own markers: alkaptonuria with homogentisic acid, phenylketonuria with phenyl ketoacids, and diabetic ketoacidosis with ketones, leaving none that produces VMA.

\[\boxed{\text{Pheochromocytoma}}\]