We present the case of a 52-year-old female admitted with fever and multiple organ failure, initially treated for presumed sepsis. However, the combination of multiple organ failure, hyperthermia and vascular instability raised the suspicion of a phaeochromocytoma multisystem crisis. An emergency abdominal ultrasound in the intensive care unit disclosed a large tumour of the right adrenal. Despite specific medical treatment for the presumed adrenal emergency and multiple organ failure, the patient succumbed. Postmortem examination verified the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma.
BosJ.C., TooriansAWFT, van MourikJ.C., van SchijndelR.J.Emergency resection of an extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma: wrong or right? A case report and a review of literature.Neth J Med2003; 61: 258–265.
6.
MittendorfE.A., EvansD.B., LeeJ.E., PerrierN.D.Pheochromocytoma: advances in genetics, diagnosis, localization, and treatment.Hematol Oncol Clin North Am2007; 21: 509–525.
7.
SuttonM.G., ShepsS.G., LieJ.T.Prevalence of clinically unsuspected pheochromocytoma. Review of a 50-year autopsy series.Mayo Clin Proc1981; 56: 354–360.
8.
BeardC.M., ShepsS.G., KurlandL.T., CarneyJ.A., LieJ.T.Occurrence of pheochromocytoma in Rochester, Minnesota, 1950 through 1979.Mayo Clin Proc1983; 58: 802–804.
BravoE.L., TagleR.Pheochromocytoma: state-of-the-art and future prospects.Endocr Rev2003; 24: 539–553.
12.
LendersJ.W., PacakK., WaltherM.M., LinehanW.M., MannelliM., FribergP.Biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma: which test is best?JAMA2002; 287: 1427–1434.
IliasI., PacakK.Anatomical and functional imaging of metastatic pheochromocytoma.Ann N Y Acad Sci2004; 1018: 495–504.
15.
BilenM.A., WaguespackS.G., TannirN.M., PravinkumarS.E., TamboliP., TuS.M.Multisystem crisis in a patient with presumptive renal cell carcinoma.Clin Genitourin Cancer2008; 6: 128–130.
16.
Siddik-SayyidS.M., DabbousA.S., ShaabanJ.A., DaaboulD.G., BarakaA.S.Catastrophic cardiac hypokinesis and multiple-organ failure after surgery in a patient with an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma: emergency excision of the tumor.J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth2007; 21: 863–866.
