title: Diabetes mellitus as presenting feature in extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma: report of a case.
abstract: Secondary diabetes mellitus was the main abnormal finding in a young lean woman with benign extra-adrenal para-aortic norepinephrine and dopamine secreting pheochromocytoma. Glucose and insulin response to oral glucose and C-peptide secretion after glucagon i.v. were evaluated before and after alpha-blockade with phenoxybenzamine. Alpha-blocking treatment restored the inhibited basal and stimulated C-secretion but did not normalize glucose tolerance. After tumor removal metabolic abnormalities were normalized, confirming the role of endogenous catecholamine excess in the pathogenesis of our patient's glucose intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Patologia Medica, Università di Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Balestrieri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spandrio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giustina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000150:complications*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide