Mediastinal pheochromocytoma with single coronary blood supply: a case report

Primary pheochromocytomas located outside the adrenal glands account for only 10% of all pheochromocytomas. Mediastinal pheochromocytomas are even rarer and usually represent a therapeutic challenge as they often infiltrate adjacent structures. We report the case of a large primary mediastinal pheoc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Heart surgery forum Vol. 10; no. 3; p. E196
Main Authors Beiras-Fernandez, Andres, Uberfuhr, Peter, Kaczmarek, Ingo, Nikolaou, Konstantinou, Weis, Florian, Ramp, Theodor, Lamm, Peter, Kreuzer, Eckart, Reichart, Bruno
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 2007
Subjects
Aged
Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Vessel Anomalies - diagnostic imaging
Heart Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Heart Neoplasms - surgery
Humans
Male
Mediastinum - diagnostic imaging
Mediastinum - surgery
Pheochromocytoma - diagnostic imaging
Pheochromocytoma - surgery
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Primary pheochromocytomas located outside the adrenal glands account for only 10% of all pheochromocytomas. Mediastinal pheochromocytomas are even rarer and usually represent a therapeutic challenge as they often infiltrate adjacent structures. We report the case of a large primary mediastinal pheochromocytoma in a 65-year-old patient presenting with a sudden angina-like chest pain and dyspnea. Thoracic multislice computed tomography showed an 8 x 5 x 6-cm retrocardiac mass causing compression of both atria and infiltrating the left superior pulmonary vein. The tumor was highly vascularized and presented a blood supply derived from the circumflex artery. The mass was successfully removed by open heart surgery, and the patient was discharged 10 days postoperatively.
ISSN:1522-6662
DOI:10.1532/HSF98.20071008