Uncommon presentation of pheochromocytoma: case studies

Adrenal Emergencies

The adrenal glands drive physiologic homeostasis, with dysregulation in any direction causing multisystem dysfunction. Adrenal excess states include hyperaldosteronism which manifests with refractory hypertension and electrolyte abnormalities including hypernatremia and hypokalemia. Paragangliomas including pheochromocytoma can cause multisystem end-organ dysfunction due to catecholaminergic storm, which require rapid blood pressure control with phentolamine and identification of lesions amenable to surgical resection. Adrenal insufficiency states in contrast can result in hypotension and decompensation refractory to vasopressor administration, requiring adrenal supplementation via hydrocortisone.

The Calm Before the Storm: A Pheochromocytoma Case Report

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from the sympathetic ganglia or adrenal medulla and secrete catecholamines that are known for the classic triad of headaches, profuse sweating, and paroxysmal hypertension. However, there have been instances of asymptomatic patients found to have a pheochromocytoma. Adrenal incidentalomas are accidentally discovered through radiologic imaging, and subsequent testing can confirm a pheochromocytoma. Here, we present a case of a 67-year-old female found to have an adrenal incidentaloma on kidney ultrasound (US) after presenting to the emergency room (ER) due to nausea. She had minimally elevated creatinine at the ER. At her follow-up with her primary care provider (PCP), a kidney US was ordered and showed a probable right suprarenal mass. Further abdominal computed tomography (CT) and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the mass was indeed adrenal, but its etiology is considered indeterminant. Although asymptomatic, further biochemical tests showed elevated serum and urine metanephrines and normetanephrines. Together, these findings revealed that the adrenal mass was likely a silent pheochromocytoma. She underwent a successful right adrenalectomy with pathology confirming pheochromocytoma. This case adds to the literature on the existence of silent pheochromocytomas and highlights the importance of following up on any abnormal findings with a PCP. This patient, although asymptomatic from her pheochromocytoma, needed surgery to prevent possible pheochromocytoma crises, which could cause cardiovascular complications and even death.

What Lies behind Paraneoplastic Hypercalcemia Secondary to Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Neoplasms? A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) originate from neuroendocrine cells ubiquitously spread throughout the body. Hypercalcemia associated with cancer is the most common life-threatening metabolic disorder in patients with advanced stage cancer. Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia is more commonly associated with hematological malignancies, renal and breast carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas, but it has also been described in patients with well-differentiated NEN, where it often remains undiagnosed. Among its causes, systemic secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and ectopic production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) may be considered paraneoplastic causes of hypercalcemia. In order to clarify the diagnostic work up of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia in patients with NEN, we perform a systematic review, which is lacking in the literature.

METHODS

We performed a data search using MEDLINE and SCOPUS including papers from 1961 to 2021. We selected articles on paraneoplastic hypercalcemia associated with well-differentiated NEN.

RESULTS

The search led to the selection of 78 publications for a total of 114 patients. Pooled data showed that the most frequent primary tumor site associated with paraneoplastic hypercalcemia was pancreatic NEN, followed by Pheochromocytoma. In most cases, paraneoplastic hypercalcemia was caused by PTHrP production and secretion. In more than two thirds of cases, paraneoplastic hypercalcemia was present at the time of NEN diagnosis and, in metachronous cases, was related to local recurrence, distant metastasis development, or tumor progression. In most patients, a combination of therapeutic approaches was employed, and reduction of the tumor burden was essential to control the paraneoplastic syndrome.

DISCUSSION

The onset of hypercalcemia associated with cancer in patients with well-differentiated NEN represents a major clinical challenge. The complex clinical and therapeutical management of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia implies the need for a multidisciplinary approach, aimed at controlling the clinical syndrome and tumor growth.

Spontaneous adrenal pheochromocytoma rupture complicated by intraperitoneal hemorrhage and shock

MEN2A is a hereditary syndrome characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma, hyperparathyroidism, and pheochromocytoma. Classically patients with a pheochromocytoma initially present with the triad of paroxysmal headaches, palpitations, and diaphoresis accompanied by marked hypertension. However, although reported as a rare presentation, spontaneous hemorrhage within a pheochromocytoma can present as an abdominal catastrophe. Unrecognized, this transformation can rapidly result in death. We report the only documented case of a thirty eight year old gentleman with MEN2A who presented to a community hospital with hemorrhagic shock and peritonitis secondary to an unrecognized hemorrhagic pheochromocytoma. The clinical course is notable for an inability to localize the source of hemorrhage during an initial damage control laparotomy that stabilized the patient sufficiently to allow emergent transfer to our facility, re-exploration for continued hemorrhage and abdominal compartment syndrome, and ultimately angiographic embolization of the left adrenal artery for control of the bleeding. Following recovery from his critical illness and appropriate medical management for pheochromocytoma, he returned for interval bilateral adrenal gland resection, from which his recovery was unremarkable. Our review of the literature highlights the high mortality associated with the undertaking of an operative intervention in the face of an unrecognized functional pheochromocytoma. This reinforces the need for maintaining a high index of suspicion for pheochromocytoma in similar cases. Our case also demonstrates the need for a mutimodal treatment approach that will often be required in these cases.

Ischemic Colitis: An Uncommon Manifestation of Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma are rare neuroectodermal tumors, responsible for less than 1 per cent of cases of hypertension. The protean manifestations of pheochromocytomas arise from the effects of catecholamine hypersecretion upon α and β receptors. The lesion may infrequently present with gastrointestinal complaints ranging from constipation and nausea to megacolon and ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis in association with pheochromocytoma occurs from intense splanchnic vasoconstriction. A case of pheochromocytoma presenting as ischemic colitis is reported.

Emergencies caused by pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or ganglioneuroma

Pheochromocytoma may lead to important emergency situations, ranging from cardiovascular emergencies to acute abdomen and multiorgan failure. It is vital to think about this disease in any emergency situation when conventional therapy fails to achieve control or symptoms occur that do not fit the initial diagnosis. The importance of keeping this diagnosis in minds is underscored by the fact that, in 50% of pheochromocytoma patients, the diagnosis is initially overlooked. Two other tumors of the sympathetic nervous system, neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma, are less commonly associated with emergency conditions. If they occur, they are often linked to catecholamine excess, paraneoplastic phenomena, or local tumor mass effect.

Seizures as a presenting symptom of phaeochromocytoma in a young soldier

New onset of seizures in young adults is frequently related to alcohol withdrawal, toxic exposure, central nervous system trauma and neoplasm. We describe a young soldier presenting to the emergency department with seizures and transient coma. On admission, he had hypertension, marked leukocytosis, hyper-glycaemia, acidosis, elevated creatinine and elevated creatine phosphokinase of muscle origin. A thorough work-up revealed elevated urinary catecholamines, and a left adrenal mass was found on MRI and MIBG scan. The patient underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy and completely recovered. This is the first description of seizures as a presenting symptom of phaeochromocytoma.

Adrenal pheochromocytoma presenting with persistent abdominal and flank pain

Pheochromocytoma is classically associated with paroxysms of headache and hypertension. Its presentation, however, may be more varied and subtle. We present a case of an adolescent female who complained of right upper quadrant and flank pain. A right adrenal pheochromocytoma was diagnosed and subsequently removed. The pertinent literature is discussed.

Glucagon and clonidine testing in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma

We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of glucagon stimulation and clonidine suppression tests in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in 113 hypertensive patients, 39 with and 74 without the tumor. In the glucagon stimulation test, blood was sampled 2 minutes after intravenous injection of 0.28 mumol (1 mg) glucagon, and in the clonidine suppression test, blood was sampled 3 hours after administration of oral clonidine, 1.30 mumol (0.3 mg)/70 kg body wt. Baseline levels of catechols in antecubital venous blood were abnormal, with norepinephrine greater than 7.10 nmol/l (1,200 pg/m), epinephrine greater than 1.51 nmol/l (276 pg/ml), norepinephrine/dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) ratio greater than 1.09, or dopa greater than 35.53 nmol/l (7,000 pg/ml), in 30 of 39 patients with pheochromocytoma (sensitivity 77%) and 1 of 74 patients without pheochromocytoma (specificity 99%). Results of the glucagon test were abnormal (norepinephrine greater than 11.83 nmol/l [2,000 pg/ml] or more than threefold increase from baseline) in 25 of 31 patients with pheochromocytoma (sensitivity 81%) and 0 of 72 patients without pheochromocytoma (specificity 100%). Results of the clonidine test were abnormal (after clonidine norepinephrine greater than 2.96 nmol/l [500 pg/ml] or less than 50% decrease from baseline) in 29 of 30 patients with pheochromocytoma (sensitivity 97%) and in 7 of 30 patients without pheochromocytoma (specificity 67%). Very high baseline levels of catechols therefore indicated the presence of pheochromocytoma, but there were several false-negative results when normal levels were obtained. The glucagon test alone was highly specific but not sensitive, and the clonidine test was highly sensitive but less specific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagnosis and management of pheochromocytoma

The diverse manifestations of this tumor reflect variations in the hormones it releases and their patterns of release and in the individual-to-individual differences in catecholamine sensitivities. There is relatively little correlation between circulating levels of the catecholamines and the extent or even existence of hypertension in these patients. An unusual case starts the discussion.