title: Multiple organ failure and coma as initial presentation of pheochromocytoma in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II A.
abstract: The unusual case of a 65-year-old woman with intermittent hypotension, fever, pulmonary edema and coma as initial presentation of pheochromocytoma is reported. The patient developed respiratory, cardiac and renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and liver dysfunction. She had to be defibrillated on multiple occasions, occurring in periods of severe hypertension. After successful surgical removal of a pheochromocytoma a thyroid medullary carcinoma was detected. Several members of the patients family had presented with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II).
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Kantonsspital Liestal, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lorz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cottier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gyr
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology*; D003422:Critical Care; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009377:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines