Metastatic phaeochromocytoma: risks of diagnostic needle puncture and treatment by arterial embolisation.
A 62-year-old man had an acute episode of hypertension 72 h after fine needle aspiration biopsy of an intra- hepatic nodule. The patient had been operated 3 years previously for a right adrenal phaeochromocytoma with no evidence of metastases at that time. Thus, a relapse of the tumour was postulated and confirmed by raised levels of urinary metanephrines. The extent of the metastases precluded surgical intervention and thus localised embolisation was proposed and permitted a clinical stabilisation over 8 months. This case indicates the necessity of long-term post-operative follow-up of phaeochromocytoma as well as the dangers of fine needle aspiration biopsy of metastases from this kind of tumour. Treatment of malignant phaeochromocytoma is difficult and embolisation was a useful therapeutic alternative in this case where the metastases were well defined.
Baguet
J P
JP
Departement of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, University Hospital, 38043 Grenoble, France. JPBaguet@chu-grenoble.fr
Hammer
L
L
Tremel
F
F
Mangin
L
L
Mallion
J M
JM
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy