Intrapericardial pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma are catecholamine-secreting tumors occurring in less than 1% of the hypertensive population. Even though more sensitive methods have facilitated the diagnosis of intrathoracic paragangliomas they still remain extremely rare. This study reports a patient with a cardiac pheochromocytoma in whom the tumor was located on the outside of the roof of the left atrium and involved the left main coronary artery. Due to this anatomy the resection of the tumor required a cardio-pulmonary bypass and transsection of the pulmonary artery. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient could be discharged without significant hypertension.