Analysis of the clinical characteristics of pheochromocytoma crisis / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of pheochromocytoma crisis (PCC). Meth-ods Data of 123 cases of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) admitted from Apr. 2011 to Feb. 2017 were retrospectively analyzed and they were divided into crisis group and noncrisis group according to the pa-tients with or without haemodynamic instability and end-organ damage. The differences of demographics charac-teristics, presentations, laboratory tests, imaging findings, perioperative clinical conditions and pathological fea-tures were compared between the two groups. Results ①16 cases were enrolled into crisis group, among whom 5 were misdiagnosed, while 107 cases were enrolled into noncrisis group. ②Compared with noncrisis group, the incidence of headache, palpitation, sweating, the classic triad, other presentations of PPGL, severe hypertension and hypotension were higher, and more patients had paroxysmal hypertension and admitted to our hospital for paroxysmal presentations in crisis group (P<0.05). ③Leukocyte, fasting blood glucose, liver transaminases, tro-ponin and D-dimmer were higher, while estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) was lower, more tumors locat-ed in the left of adrenal in crisis group(P<0.05). ④ Patients in crisis group had higher plasma free metanephrines (MNs), larger maximal tumor diameter, higher enhanced CT value in each period, more benign tumors and hem-orrhage or necrosis in the tumors, but all the differences were not significant when compared with the noncrisis group. ⑤Patients in crisis group were more likely to undergo elective surgery. However, there was no difference in the preoperative time of α-blockade, type of surgery, intraoperative and postoperative complications, mortality a-mong the two groups. Conclusions PCC is a rare endocrinological emergency with a highly variable manifesta-tions, which commonly presents with typical triad, with higher incidence of hemodynamic instability and end-organ damage. Although biochemical and imaging examinations are relatively effective in the diagnosis of PCC, the mis-diagnosis remains inappropriate high. Once the diagnosis is established, clinicians should timely start drug prepa-ration while surgical resection is the key to the treatment of PCC.