title: Acute mercury poisoning (acrodynia) mimicking pheochromocytoma in an adolescent.
abstract: A 14-year-old boy was seen because of irritability, insomnia, lethargy, and profuse sweating, together with hypertension (blood pressure: 160/120 mm Hg), tachycardia, and a diffuse erythematous rash with desquamation of the palms and soles. Initial biochemical investigation suggested a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, but subsequently a history of exposure to mercury vapor was obtained. This case emphasizes the clinical and biochemical similarities between mercury poisoning (acrodynia) and pheochromocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henningsson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McGonigle
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Winter
mesh_terms: D000170:Acrodynia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury