Your uncle complains to you of sudden "attacks" of sweating which are accompanied by blanching and flushing of the skin, a severe headache and throbbing of the heart. Your aunt tells you that he has been acting strangely, almost hysterical, and asks you if he may be going through male menopause. When asked if anything seems to trigger the attacks, your uncle says that they often occur after a bowel movement. However, he has been taking laxatives regularly for the last few months since he often feels constipated. On your insistence, you accompany him to his physician. While having his blood pressure taken, your uncle becomes more anxious and a sweating "attack" is precipitated. The nurse also appears disturbed and says that he had elevated blood pressure but that both his systolic and diastolic pressures increased dramatically with the onset of the attack. Your uncle is sent for a CT scan of the lumbar region and the radiologist tells you that she thinks that the unusual soft tissue mass just medial to the left kidney is the cause of your uncle's problems.