An Extra-adrenal Pheochromocytoma Presenting with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hematoma

TWe report a 18-year-old man, who has been taking antihypertensive medication for 1month in a local clinic, presented with a sudden onset headache followed by left blindness. He experienced palpitation and chest discomfort during physical exertion since 2years before admission, but unfortunately has been ignored. Brain CT showed intracerebral hemorrhage in the left temporoparietal area, but cerebral angiogram and magnetic resonance image revealed no vascular anomaly. He was managed conservatively, and headache and visual loss were improved over time. Subsequently, on the evaluation of hypertension, he was diagnosed as having extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma on left paraaortic area from the results of endocrinological evaluations, abdominal CT scan, and 131I-MIBG scintigraphy.

Ultrasound-guided Evacuation of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Basal Ganglia

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound can be used in the treatment of large intracerebral hematoma. The authors present our experiences with Ultrasound-guided catheter placement for lysis and drainage of ganglionic hematoma, with emphasis on technical aspects. METHODS: The authors applied real-time ultrasonography for the aspiration of intracerebral hematoma in 6cases. Ultrasound-guided aspiration via a burrhole was performed under local anesthesia. We selected a temporal entry point instead of the frequently used precoronal approach in ganglionic hematoma. A burrhole was made 4 to 6cm posterior from posterior border of frontal process of the zygomatic bone at the level of 4 to 5cm above the external auditory meatus. RESULTS: In all patients, the catheter was placed accurately into the hematoma target. All patients were irrigated with urokinase once to three times a day. The catheter could be removed within two or three days. The mean hematoma volume was reduced from initially 32mL to 5mL in an average of two days. There were no intraoperative complications related to the use of real-time ultrasonography and no postoperative infections were noted. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound allows an easy and precise localization of the hematoma and the distance from the surface to the target can be calculated. Ultrasound-guided catheter placement for fibrinolysis and hematoma drainage is a simple and safe procedure.