Outcomes of concurrent Caesarean delivery and pheochromocytoma resection in late pregnancy.

Undiagnosed pheochromocytoma in pregnancy is associated with significant maternal and foetal mortality. Herein we reviewed five cases of pheochromocytoma in pregnancy occurring during late pregnancy. The mean age at presentation was 30.6 years, and the gestational age ranged from 26 to 36 weeks. All patients had elevated levels of urinary catecholamines. In three patients, the lesion was located in the adrenal gland, in one patient the urinary bladder, and there was one case of recurrent malignant pheochromocytoma with metastases. Tumour resections were performed at the time of Caesarean section in four patients, two through laparoscopy. When pheochromocytoma is diagnosed in pregnancy after the second trimester, concurrent tumour resection with Caesarean section is feasible and in our series was achieved in four cases without adverse maternal or foetal consequences.