Pheochromocytoma arising from an accessory adrenal gland in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A: transient development of clinical manifestations after hemorrhagic necrosis.

A case of pheochromocytoma arising from an accessory adrenal gland in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) is reported. This tumor resulted in autonecrosis which caused transient expression of clinical symptoms. Scintigraphy of the abdomen identified the existence of an additional accessory adrenal gland because of which the patient did not require a supplement of hydrocortisone after bilateral total adrenalectomy. Pheochromocytoma arising from an accessory adrenal gland is rarely reported, and spontaneous remission of clinical symptoms due to necrosis of the pheochromocytoma without a clinical emergency is also unusual. Accessory adrenal glands can be the cellular basis for pheochromocytoma, and the importance of continual follow up for pheochromocytoma in subjects with MEN 2A should be emphasized.