Catecholamine-secreting carotid body tumor and intracranial aneurysm: coincidence?
BACKGROUND
An extremely rare case of intracranial aneurysm associated with catecholamine-secreting carotid body tumor is presented.


METHODS
A 64-year-old woman suffering from hypertensive attacks was admitted first to the Otolaryngology Department with a neck swelling. Right common carotid angiography revealed a hypervascular mass at the carotid bifurcation. On the same angiogram a middle cerebral artery aneurysm was discovered incidentally and the patient was referred to the Neurosurgical Department. Because of her history the tumor was considered to be endocrinologically active and the patient underwent alpha- and beta-blockade to protect intraoperative cardiovascular instability. Despite all precautions, during the operation hypertensive crises developed and the aneurysm was clipped with difficulty.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative management designed to avoid complications in treating this rare association is discussed. Although this is the first reported case of an intracranial aneurysm associated with a functional carotid body tumor, a possible etiopathogenesis of the relationship between the aneurysm and hypertensive attacks due to an acute catecholamine-discharging tumor is presented.
Inci
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Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
Bertan
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D000368:Aged; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D002395:Catecholamines