Brain Metastasis of Pheochromocytoma: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

Abstract Pheochromocytoma brain metastasis (PBM) is extremely rare. There are few cases reported in the publishedliterature. Therefore, the diagnostic and effectivetreatments of such a lesion aredifficult. Here, we report the case of 29 years-old women,whowas operated on for a right adrenal pheochromocytoma (PCC).Fourteen months later, a posterior fossa tumor wasdiagnosed..Radiological findings were miming an extra-axial lesion. The radiological differential diagnosis was difficult even using the MRI spectroscopy. The patient was operated through a retro-sigmoid approach. Regrettably, localrecurrence occurred six months after the first surgery.The patient passed away one month later, despite a second operation. Although the occurrence of brain metastases in pheochromocytoma is not a prevalent disease, patients presenting with suggestive features need to be carefullyconsidered. MRI can help indifferential diagnosis with a primary brain tumor. There are unfortunatelyno establishedguidelines for the treatment of PBM whichprognosis remains dismal, despite effectivesurgery.