BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Malignant pheochromocytoma is a rare neoplasm of chromaffin tissue. Very few cases of malignant adrenal pheochromocytoma metastatic to vertebrae exist. PURPOSE: To determine the prognosis of a patient with an excised adrenal pheochromocytoma and a single metachronous metastasis to the upper dorsal spine. STUDY DESIGN: Case report METHODS: The authors report a patient who underwent total excision of an adrenal pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland in 2000 who developed a single metastasis to the second dorsal vertebra in 2002 with no evidence of abdominal recurrence. RESULTS: Four-year survival is documented after the spinal metastasis was first detected after two attempts at excision and radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with adrenal pheochromocytomas must be screened periodically with whole body imaging despite normal abdominal imaging as there is a definite risk of metachronous metastasis. Aggressive therapy may result in improving survival significantly in a subset of patients with isolated spinal metastases.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Malignant pheochromocytoma is a rare neoplasm of chromaffin tissue. Very few cases of malignant adrenal pheochromocytoma metastatic to vertebrae exist. PURPOSE: To determine the prognosis of a patient with an excised adrenal pheochromocytoma and a single metachronous metastasis to the upper dorsal spine. STUDY DESIGN: Case report METHODS: The authors report a patient who underwent total excision of an adrenal pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland in 2000 who developed a single metastasis to the second dorsal vertebra in 2002 with no evidence of abdominal recurrence. RESULTS: Four-year survival is documented after the spinal metastasis was first detected after two attempts at excision and radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with adrenal pheochromocytomas must be screened periodically with whole body imaging despite normal abdominal imaging as there is a definite risk of metachronous metastasis. Aggressive therapy may result in improving survival significantly in a subset of patients with isolated spinal metastases.
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