Cardiac pheochromocytoma

Primary Cardiac Pheochromocytoma (Paraganglioma)

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumors arise from primitive neural crest cells. About 90% of these tumors occur as solitary benign tumors of the adrenal medulla, where majority of chromaffin cells are concentrated. Only ten percent originates from extra-adrenal sites with the organ of Zukerkandal (paraganglia along abdominal aorta) being the most common. Chromaffin ...

Primary cardiac pheochromocytoma.

Life-Threatening Cardiac Manifestations of Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor of the adrenal glands, usually with benign manifestations, whose typical clinical presentation includes the triad of headache, palpitations and diaphoresis. However, a wide range of signs and symptoms may be present. In the cardiovascular system, the most common signs are labile hypertension and sinus tachycardia. Systolic heart failure and ST...

Multiple Vertebral Metastases from Malignant Cardiac Pheochromocytoma

A 27-year-old male presented with a very rare metastasis to the vertebral body from a cardiac pheochromocytoma manifesting as a pathological fracture of the C-4 vertebral body that occurred while playing golf. The patient was initially treated with hard collar fixation. Gallium scintigraphy demonstrated multiple hot spots in the mediastinum, the frontal bone, the vertebral column, and the rib. ...

Cardiac pheochromocytoma originating in the interatrial septum.

A 36-year-old woman with classic clinical and biochemical features of pheochromocytoma was found to have a cardiac pheochromocytoma originating in the interatrial septum and a significant obstructive lesion in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Complete resection of the pheochromocytoma and an aortosaphenous vein graft were performed. This is the first reported case of successful res...