A Case of Paroxysmal Pheochromocytoma with Normal Catecholamine Levels / 대한내과학회지
Korean Journal of Medicine
;
: 503-509, 2012.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-12479
ABSTRACT
A 53-year-old woman had a 1.7 cm left adrenal mass on an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. She presented with paroxysmal headache, palpitation, sweating, and hypertension. The patient was highly suspected of having a pheochromocytoma, but measurements of 24-hour urinary metanephrine, catecholamines, and vanillylmandelic acid were normal. Plasma and urine catecholamine levels were within the normal range even during paroxysmal episodes. A scintigraphic study with 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) revealed selective concentration of the radiotracer, corresponding to the CT mass. The patient underwent a left adrenalectomy and the pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. In this report, we describe a rare case of a symptomatic pheochromocytoma with normal catecholamine levels. Our case illustrates that routine nuclear scintigraphy, such as 131I-MIBG, should be performed even in cases with normal hormonal testing for all patients with high clinical suspicion of pheochromocytoma.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Pheochromocytoma
/
Plasma
/
Reference Values
/
Sweat
/
Sweating
/
Vanilmandelic Acid
/
Catecholamines
/
Metanephrine
/
Adrenalectomy
/
3-Iodobenzylguanidine
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Korean Journal of Medicine
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
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