PURPOSE: To report the risk of catecholamine crisis in patients undergoing resection of unsuspected pheochromocytoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a four-year period, we retrospectively identified four patients who underwent resection of adrenal pheochromocytoma in whom the diagnosis was unsuspected based on preoperative clinical, biochemical, and imaging evaluation. RESULTS: None of the patients exhibited preoperative clinical features of catecholamine excess. Preoperative biochemical screening in two patients was normal. CT scan performed in all patients demonstrated a nonspecific enhancing adrenal mass. During surgical resection of the adrenal mass, hemodynamic instability was observed in two of four patients, and one of these two patients also suffered a myocardial infarct. CONCLUSION: Both surgeons and radiologists should maintain a high index of suspicion for pheochromocytoma, as the tumor can be asymptomatic, biochemically negative, and have nonspecific imaging features. Resection of such unsuspected pheochromocytomas carries a substantial risk of intraoperative hemodynamic instability.
PURPOSE: To report the risk of catecholamine crisis in patients undergoing resection of unsuspected pheochromocytoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a four-year period, we retrospectively identified four patients who underwent resection of adrenal pheochromocytoma in whom the diagnosis was unsuspected based on preoperative clinical, biochemical, and imaging evaluation. RESULTS: None of the patients exhibited preoperative clinical features of catecholamine excess. Preoperative biochemical screening in two patients was normal. CT scan performed in all patients demonstrated a nonspecific enhancing adrenal mass. During surgical resection of the adrenal mass, hemodynamic instability was observed in two of four patients, and one of these two patients also suffered a myocardial infarct. CONCLUSION: Both surgeons and radiologists should maintain a high index of suspicion for pheochromocytoma, as the tumor can be asymptomatic, biochemically negative, and have nonspecific imaging features. Resection of such unsuspected pheochromocytomas carries a substantial risk of intraoperative hemodynamic instability.
Authors: Tobias Else; Alex C Kim; Aaron Sabolch; Victoria M Raymond; Asha Kandathil; Elaine M Caoili; Shruti Jolly; Barbra S Miller; Thomas J Giordano; Gary D Hammer Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2013-12-20 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: Massimo Mannelli; Jacques W M Lenders; Karel Pacak; Gabriele Parenti; Graeme Eisenhofer Journal: Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2012-05-22 Impact factor: 4.690
Authors: Atousa Deljou; Jacob D Kohlenberg; Toby N Weingarten; Irina Bancos; William F Young; Darrell R Schroeder; David P Martin; Juraj Sprung Journal: BMC Anesthesiol Date: 2018-11-06 Impact factor: 2.217