Document Type : Case Report

Authors

• Reza Mohammadi ¹
• Mohammadamin Hesamarefi ¹
• Mohammadhadi Hesam-Arefi ²
• Mohammadali Bagherinasabsarab ¹

¹ Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

² Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Background: Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma can secrete excess Catecholamines, causing hypertension, tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, or shock. Measuring blood and urine Metanephrine levels helps with a proper diagnosis. Tumor localization can be performed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT). Tumors can also present as an asymptomatic adrenal incidentaloma, identified radiographically. Here, we report one such interesting case.
Case report: A 48-year-old woman was referred to us with an 8.9 × 9.4 cm right adrenal incidentaloma, as measured by computed tomography (CT) scan. She was totally asymptomatic, with normal blood pressure both before and after the operation. Repeated biochemical screening remained within normal range. The patient underwent right adrenalectomy (via a subcostal incision), and histological findings confirmed Pheochromocytoma.
Conclusion: This case illustrates how radiologic findings in an asymptomatic and biochemically negative patient can alert to the presence of a Pheochromocytoma. 

Keywords

• pheochromocytoma
• incidentaloma
• hypertension
• biochemically negative
• asymptomatic
• Computed tomography
• Magnetic resonance imaging

Main Subjects

• Urology