Abstract: Objective: To improve the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent pheochromocytoma.Methods: A total of 18 cases with recurrent pheochromocytoma, treated during 1973 to 2003, werestudied.Results: The recurrence was due to the implantation or remain of tumor, the metastasis of ma-lignant tumor and the multifocal occurrence of benign one. Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas tended tooccur at several sites or metastases. The metastatic places occurred in no pheochromatic tissues, andthe recurrent benign tumors were liable to grow at extra-adrenal regions.Conclusions: Not all recur-rent pheochromocytomas are malignant tumors. Multifocal occurrence and extra-adrenal tumor withconsiderable malignant tendency should undergo intensive surveillance. To minimize the recurrence, weshould avoid the implantation or remain of the tumor and undergo radical resection in tumor with malig-nant tendency.