Extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma—a case report of refractory hypertension

Abstract

There are at least 5% of all hypertensive patients whose blood pressure (BP) remains elevated despite adequate treatment. In these cases, the clinician is forced to search for a secondary cause of the chronic BP elevation. Certain environmental factors are known to induce resistant-hypertension. Additionally, there may be pseudo-resistance occurring or the patient may be suffering from a secondary form of hypertension such as renovascular or endocrinological hypertension (phaeochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, etc.). We report a case of extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma who was on adequate antihypertensive medications but remained refractory to treatment prior to the exact diagnosis.

Severe Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy in Pheochromocytoma: Importance of Susceptibility-Weighted MRI

“…The classical symtoms are due to blood cathecolamine excess; headache, hypertension, hyperhydrosis, hyperglycemia, and hypermetobolism. Complications of the pheochromocytoma are rarely seen, such as cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and sudden deaths areassociated with cardiotoxic effects of high cathecolamine levels (3). Intracerebral ischemia, infarction and hemorrhage are other serious complications, related with increased platelet aggregation, hypertension and vasospasm due to high cathecolamine levels (4).…”