ABSTRACT
A 52 yearold female presented with a thoracic paravertebral tumour causing spinal nerve root compression and lower limbs neurologic symptoms. The patient was scheduled to undergo thoracic decompression laminectomy and instrumentation. Markedly severe hemodynamic fluctuations happened during the manipulation of the tumor and continued after the tumor was removed. After multimodal antihypertensive therapy the vital signs were adequately managed and the surgery was successfully performed without complications. The patient was discharged without any sequelae ten days later. The pathology report indicated the diagnosis of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. Unexpected pheochromocytoma may lead to a fatal hypertensive crisis during surgery. For anesthesiologists and surgeons who encounter an unexpected hypertensive crisis during surgery, undiagnosed pheochromocytoma should always be considered.
