Malignant pheochromocytoma with hepatic metastasis diagnosed 10 years after a resection of the primary incidentaloma adrenal lesion: report of a case.
A 40-year-old woman developed hepatic tumors 10 years after a resection of pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland. Computed tomography showed a round tumor measuring about 35mm in diameter at segment V of the liver (Couinaud's classification), and magnetic resonance imaging showed another tumor measuring about 5mm at segment V-VIII of the liver. The results of the endoscopic examination of her upper gastrointestinal tract and barium enema were normal. Owing to a suspected hepatic metastasis of malignant pheochromocytoma, a right lobectomy of the liver was performed. Postoperatively, [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigram and computed tomography showed no other residual tumors nor metastasis. The present case suggests that a long-term follow-up only by endocrinological examinations is insufficient to find newly developed metastatic foci, while routine diagnostic imaging at frequent intervals is necessary in cases of pheochromocytoma.
Morikawa
T
T
First Department of Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Suzuki
M
M
Unno
M
M
Endo
K
K
Katayose
Y
Y
Matsuno
S
S
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D013997:Time Factors