Adrenal pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma producing catecholamines and various neuropeptides.
A 65-year-old woman presenting with back pain, difficulties in walking and watery diarrhea. A right adrenal tumor and high excretion of catecholamines were found. Laboratory examinations showed raised levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin and calcitonin. Histology showed a combined pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma. The neoplastic cell population was immunohistochemically shown to contain tyrosine hydroxylase, neuropeptide Y, met-enkephalin, substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Postoperatively, the patient recovered fully and the hormone levels returned to normal.
Salmi
J
J
Department of Internal Medicine, University Central Hospital of Tampere, Finland.
Pelto-Huikko
M
M
Auvinen
O
O
Karvonen
A L
AL
Saaristo
J
J
Paronen
I
I
Pöyhönen
L
L
Seppänen
S
S
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D002395:Catecholamines; D009479:Neuropeptides