Toe necrosis and acute myocardial infarction precipitated by a pheochromocytoma in a patient with systemic sclerosis

An unusual cause of toe necrosis

Peripheral vascular disease is a rare feature of pheochromocytoma. This potentially catastrophic but curable tumor should be suspected in combination of distal necrosis with hypertension and palpable pulses. We report such an unusual case of pheochromocytoma presenting as toe necrosis.

[Critical limb ischemia in systemic sclerosis]

Vascular complications are common in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Critical limb ischemia leading to gangrene or amputation occurs in more than 10% of these patients and hence is a common emergency. This report highlights the different pathogenetic mechanisms leading to critical ischemic events and provides guidance for the diagnosis and therapy. Apart from SSc-associated vasculopathy and peripheral arterial disease, thromboembolic events and rarely also vasculitis may cause critical limb ischemia. An interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and therapy of these lesions is mandatory. Therapy goals are the prevention of further ischemia and, if possible, revascularization as well as optimal pain management.

Phaeochromocytoma-associated critical peripheral ischaemia

Limb Ischaemia is an exceptional complication of catecholamine toxicity caused by a phaeochromocytoma. We present a middle-aged female patient with severe subacute peripheral ishaemia, gangrene and eventual amputation of all four distal limbs due to a large non-metastatic left adrenal gland phaeochromocytoma and summarise the available literature concerning previously reported cases.

Phaeochromocytoma mimicking scleroderma

We describe a patient with adrenal phaeochromocytoma who presented with peripheral vasospasm and ischaemia and other manifestations mimicking features of systemic sclerosis, which resolved after resection of the tumor. Phaeochromocytoma should be suspected in patients with features of scleroderma who are negative for auto-antibodies.