Pheochromocytoma-induced shock : a case report.

Submitted by Karine Ribeiro (karinelg.ribeiro@gmail.com) on 2014-10-31T16:45:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ARTIGO_PheochromocytomaInducedShock.pdf: 18448378 bytes, checksum: 5dcfaa534ebfbe4f5c5bda7b59f3e7b2 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Gracilene Carvalho (gracilene@sisbin.ufop.br) on 2014-11-11T20:27:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ARTIGO_PheochromocytomaInducedShock.pdf: 18448378 bytes, checksum: 5dcfaa534ebfbe4f5c5bda7b59f3e7b2 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-11T20:27:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ARTIGO_PheochromocytomaInducedShock.pdf: 18448378 bytes, checksum: 5dcfaa534ebfbe4f5c5bda7b59f3e7b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Because of its rarity, together with the variability and nonspecificity of its signs and symptoms, pheochromocytoma, a tumor arising from chromaffin cells, creates an unlucky paradox: it is often missed but only rarely found. Besides the association with arterial hypertension, often in the form of paroxysmal attacks, pheochromocytoma may also be associated, in up to 40% of cases, with orthostatic hypotension which, when present, provides a clue to the diagnosis of the tumor. Far more rare (about 2% of cases) is the clinical presentation in the form of shock, a possibility that, among other attributes, justifies the epithet “the great mimic” applied to the neoplasia. The authors report the case of a 51-year-old hypertensive woman whose death was erroneously attributed to septic shock. Autopsy disclosed an unsuspected left adrenal bulky pheochromocytoma with areas of hemorrhage and extensive central necrosis, pronounced pulmonary edema, left ventricular mural thrombus, and histological evidence of acute myocardial injury