Pheochromocytoma-induced shock: a case report

Authors

  • Stanley de Almeida Araújo Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Paula Alves Santos do Carmo Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Eduardo Paulino Júnior Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Isabela Nascimento Borges Internal Medicine Service – Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Luiz Otávio Savassi Rocha Department of Internal Medicine – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%25y.48196

Keywords:

Pheochromocytoma, Shock, Autopsy

Abstract

Because of its rarity, together with the variability and nonspecificity of its signs and symptoms, pheochromocytoma, a tumor arising from chromaffin cells, creates an unlucky paradox: it is often missed but only rarely found. Besides the association with arterial hypertension, often in the form of paroxysmal attacks, pheochromocytoma may also be associated, in up to 40% of cases, with orthostatic hypotension which, when present, provides a clue to the diagnosis of the tumor. Far more rare (about 2% of cases) is the clinical presentation in the form of shock, a possibility that, among other attributes, justifies the epithet “the great mimic” applied to the neoplasia. The authors report the case of a 51-year-old hypertensive woman whose death was erroneously attributed to septic shock. Autopsy disclosed an unsuspected left adrenal bulky pheochromocytoma with areas of hemorrhage and extensive central necrosis, pronounced pulmonary edema, left ventricular mural thrombus, and histological evidence of acute myocardial injury.

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Published

2012-09-09

Issue

Section

Article / Autopsy Case Report

How to Cite

Araújo, S. de A., Carmo, P. A. S. do, Paulino Júnior, E., Borges, I. N., & Rocha, L. O. S. (2012). Pheochromocytoma-induced shock: a case report. Autopsy and Case Reports, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%y.48196