Background: Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor from the adrenal medulla’s chromaffin cells that secrete catecholamines. The mainstay of treatment is surgery. Although rare, it has a recurrence rate of 6.5-16.5% even after adequate surgical removal with a notable increase in prevalence among genetic syndromes, extra-adrenal tumors, larger tumor size, and younger age of diagnosis. Case: A 23-year-old Filipino male with no known familial disease presented with episodic headache, palpitations, diaphoresis, and resistant hypertension. Two masses in the left adrenal gland, with the larger one measuring 6.0cm x 5.0cm x 3.0cm, were surgically removed. Histologic examination revealed pheochromocytoma. Post-operatively, there was the normalization of urinary metanephrines and the resolution of the signs and symptoms. He was lost to follow-up and returned five years later with an abdominal ultrasound demonstrating a right adrenal mass. He had no accompanying signs and symptoms; the physical examination was unremarkable. On workup, biochemical testing revealed two 24-hour urinary metanephrine levels were markedly elevated, 14.49 and 19.97 (NV:0-1mg/24 hours). Calcitonin: 644 (NV:0-18pg/ml) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA): 23.52 (NV:<5ng/ml) were also elevated. Mild hypercalcemia was noted with elevated intact PTH 101.74 (NV:0-65pg/ml). Parathyroid scintigraphy was normal. The neck ultrasound showed multiple bilateral thyroid nodules, with the largest measuring 1.2cmx0.9cm (TIRADS IV). The abdominal CT scan showed two well-defined, homogenous right adrenal masses, with the largest measuring 6.3cm x 5.6cm x 7.4cm. He underwent right adrenalectomy, and histopathology showed pheochromocytoma with Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Scale Score (PASS) of 3. One month later, he underwent total thyroidectomy with neck dissection and inferior parathyroid gland resection. Histopathology confirmed medullary thyroid cancer with nodal metastasis and parathyroid adenoma. The patient recovered well without complications. Biochemical tests normalized eight weeks post-surgery. The presence of synchronous recurrent pheochromocytoma, medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and primary hyperparathyroidism is consistent with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) syndrome. Conclusion: Lifelong follow-up is essential in patients treated for pheochromocytoma despite the complete removal of the adrenal masses due to recurrence risk. Recurrence should likewise raise the suspicion of MEN2, a genetic syndrome. In addition, the pheochromocytoma has malignant characteristics, and the MTC has metastases to the cervical lymph nodes. Early detection and prompt intervention are essential for the treatment of the disease.
Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition with mortality rates reaching up to 20 to 30%. First-line treatment includes inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis, prevention of release of preformed hormones, blocking of peripheral FT4 to FT3 conversion, enhancing hormone clearance, and definitive radioactive iodine ablation. However, in the presence of life-threatening adverse effects (e.g., agranulocytosis) and contraindications (e.g., fulminant hepatic failure), therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can be used to rapidly remove circulating thyroid hormones, antibodies, and cytokines in plasma; this is recommended by the American Society of Apheresis (ASFA) and the American Thyroid Association (ATA) as second-line treatment for thyroid storm. Here, we report a 49-year-old female with Graves' disease admitted in our emergency room for a 6-week history of fever, weight loss, jaundice, exertional dyspnea, palpitations, and diarrhea. Her initial thyroid hormone levels were: FT4 64.35 (NV 9.01-19.05 pmol/L), FT3 23.91 (NV: 2.89-4.88 pmol/L), and TSH 0.00000 (NV: 0.35-4.94 mIU/L) and we managed her as a case of thyroid storm (Burch-Wartofsky score 70) by initiating high dose propylthiouracil. However, her sensorium deteriorated and serum bilirubin continued to rise from 307.2 on admission to 561.6 umol/L on the 5 th hospital day (NV: 3 -22 umol/L). TPE was performed after consultation with the Division of Hematology. Over the treatment course, her thyroid hormones normalized: FT4 13.18 pmol/L, FT3 2.30 pmol/L. However, despite TPE, her symptoms worsened and she became comatose, had hypotension despite vasopressors and developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. She expired on her 7 th hospital day from multiorgan failure. TPE is effective in decreasing circulating thyroid hormone levels. However, it had no effect on clinically important outcomes as our patient still deteriorated and eventually succumbed. We still wrote and submitted this case report since if only successful cases were reported, the true effectiveness rate of TPE could not be determined.
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