“Impending doom” is a symptom associated with which tumor of the adrenal glands?

The symptom of "impending doom" is particularly associated with pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal glands that secretes catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. This condition leads to episodic symptoms, including anxiety, palpitations, and severe hypertension, which can create a sensation of an impending life-threatening event. Patients often report feelings of overwhelming anxiety or a sense of dread, which is why this symptom is significantly relevant in the context of pheochromocytoma.

The other conditions listed do not typically present with this particular feeling. Adrenal adenomas mainly function as benign tumors that may secrete hormones but do not lead to the acute anxiety and sense of doom characteristic of pheochromocytoma. Carcinoid tumors producing serotonin can lead to flushing or gastrointestinal symptoms but not specifically the sense of impending doom associated with catecholamine surges. Cushing's syndrome results from prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels, leading to various symptoms, yet it does not typically include the intense, acute psychological symptoms seen in pheochromocytoma. Thus, pheochromocytoma is correctly identified as the tumor associated with the symptom of impending doom.