Feocromocitoma: a propósito de 3 casos clínicos Pheochromocytoma: 3 clinical case reports

Phaeochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours with a highly variable clinical presentation, most commonly presenting with episodes of headaches, sweating, palpitations and hypertension. The serious and potentially lethal cardiovascular complications of these tumours are due to the potent effects of secreted catecholamines. Biochemical testing for phaechromocytoma is indicated, not only in symptomatic patients, but also in patients with adrenal incidentalomas or identified genetic predispositions (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1). The authors report three cases in which a biochemical diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma was made: the first refers to a 30 year-old man admitted for investigation of a right adrenal 6cm diameter incidentaloma; the second is a 35 year-old woman studied for secondary hypertension and the third a 59 year-old woman, otherwise healthy, with a right supra-renal node on a routine ultrasound exam. Imaging techniques such as CT, MRI and functional ligands such as I 123 -MIBG were used to localize the biochemically proven tumour. After the use of appropriate preoperative treatment to block the effects of secreted cathecolamines, laparoscopic tumour removal was the preferred procedure. Prognosis is excellent.