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Unit Code 9454:
Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), Urine

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Useful For

Screening for catecholamine-secreting tumors in children when

accompanied by homovanillic acid (HVA)

 

Supporting a diagnosis of neuroblastoma

 

Monitoring neuroblastoma treatment

 

In the past, this test has been used to screen for pheochrome-

cytoma. However, VMA is not the analyte of choice to rule out a

diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Recommended tests for this

purpose are #81609 "Metanephrines, Fractionated, Free, Plasma”

(p. 540), #83006 "Metanephrines, Fractionated, 24-Hour, Urine”

(p. 541), and #9276 "Catecholamine Fractionation, Urinary, Free”

(p. 155).

Special Instructions and Forms

• Urine Preservatives 

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry 
(LC-MS/MS) Stable Isotope Dilution Analysis
For children 14 years of age and younger, #9254
"Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA) and Homovanillic Acid,
(HVA), Pediatric, Urine" is the recommended test.

Reporting Name

Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), U

Ordering Mnemonic

VMA

Aliases

3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid

4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid

Neuroblastoma Profile (See Q & A Section of MayoAccess)

Vanilmandelic acid

VMA, Urine

Key