Palliative chemotherapy for malignant pheochromocytoma: symptomatic palliation of two cases.
Malignant pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis because excess production of catecholamines leads to potentially lethal complications. Several chemotherapy regimens have been reported to be effective against this tumor, but a standard form of chemotherapy has not been established. We treated two patients with histologically confirmed pheochromocytoma after surgical removal of the primary lesion. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema was resolved and bone metastases were controlled by individualized chemotherapy that decreased the catecholamine levels, and the performance status was improved in both cases. Palliative chemotherapy should be designed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
Department of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
M
M
Iwabuchi
Y
Y
Oki
H
H
Nakamura
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D010166:Palliative Care; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009638:Norepinephrine