Fatal pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

The safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) has been demonstrated in multiple studies with a major complication rate of <1%. Specifically, ventricular tachycardia during DSE has a reported incidence of 0.3%, and has been bound to be of no prognostic significance in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease. We report a unique case of fatal pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by DSE in a patient with heretofore unknown adrenal disease. We are once again reminded that no diagnostic modality is absolutely without risk; however, minimal they might be.