Asymptomatic pheochromocytoma in the posterior mediastinum

A 66-year-old female patient was treated for a posterior mediastinal tumour with unknown histology. During thoracotomy, repetitive hypertensive crises had to be treated. The tumour was completely resected. Pathology revealed an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is usually...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa chirurgica belgica Vol. 107; no. 4; p. 465
Main Authors Bouhouch, A, Hendriks, J M H, Lauwers, P R M, De Raeve, H R, Van Schil, P E Y
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.07.2007
Subjects
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - pathology
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery
Aged
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mediastinum
Pheochromocytoma - diagnostic imaging
Pheochromocytoma - pathology
Pheochromocytoma - surgery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:A 66-year-old female patient was treated for a posterior mediastinal tumour with unknown histology. During thoracotomy, repetitive hypertensive crises had to be treated. The tumour was completely resected. Pathology revealed an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is usually made on the basis of clinical presentation and elevated catecholamine levels in serum or urine. Imaging is used primarily for localizing tumours prior to surgery. Complete surgical excision is the primary treatment. The only absolute indicator of malignancy is the identification of distant metastases to bone, liver, lung or lymph nodes.
ISSN:0001-5458
DOI:10.1080/00015458.2007.11680101