Ischemic colitis: an uncommon manifestation of pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma are rare neuroectodermal tumors, responsible for less than 1 per cent of cases of hypertension. The protean manifestations of pheochromocytomas arise from the effects of catecholamine hypersecretion upon alpha and beta receptors. The lesion may infrequently present with gastrointestinal complaints ranging from constipation and nausea to megacolon and ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis in association with pheochromocytoma occurs from intense splanchnic vasoconstriction. A case of pheochromocytoma presenting as ischemic colitis is reported.