Metastatic Pheochromocytoma of the Thoracic Spinal

In this case report, a thoracic extradural metastatic pheochromocytoma without bony invasion, is presented. The disease which has been identified with it's symptoms, bio-chemical features, radiological appearance, histological diagnosis has been discussed in comparison with malignant pheochromocytoma metastases in the literature. The origin of this tumor is the adrenal glands. Our review of the literature shows that tumor has primary metastasis in bony structures of the spine and then demonstrates secondary intraspinal invasion. This is the first case report of an epidural metastasis from malignant pheochromocytoma without a bony invasion. The term “pheochromocytoma ” has been classically used to describe an adrenal functioning (epinephrine-and norepinephrine- secreting) paraganglioma, but it has also been applied to extra-adrenal functioning paraganglionomas (1,5,7,9,13,21,22). The pheochromocytoma usually is benign, but approximately 10 per cent are malignant (1,5,7,19,22). The incidence of malignant pheochromocytoma varies between 2.5 % and 13 % according to literature (1,5,7,19,22). The malignant diagnosis occurs according to whether metastasis or invasion exists. In 7 % of the cases metastasis occurs in more than on