Abstract
Two cases of malignant pheochromocytoma were reported.
The first case, a 40-year-old man, was admitted with the complaints of constipation and abdominal tumor. Marked hypertension was found. Computed tomography revealed a hypervascular mass at the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta. Laboratory investigation revealed elevated levels of VMA, norepinephrine and normetanephrine in the urine and of norepinephrine in the plasma. At laparotomy, an 8×5×4cm mass adherent to the aorta was removed. The blood pressure returned to normal for six months. Then, hypertensive symptoms recurred with metastasis to the liver and sacrum. He died nine months postoperatively.
The second case, a 21-year-old man, was admitted with the complaint of severe lumbar pain, He had had mild hypertension since the age of 18. Radiography revealed destruction of the third lumbar vertebra and computed tomography a large mass in the right flank. Laboratory investigation revealed elevated levels of VMA, dopamine, norepinephrine and normetanephrine in the urine and of norepinephrine in the plasma. At laparotomy, a 13.5×11.5×7.5cm mass was incompletely removed because of invasion to the inferior vena cava. Postoperatively, radiation therapy, total 11000rads was given. He is asymptomatic with metastatic foci a year after surgery.
A brief review of the literature was given.
