A painful pulsatile abdominal mass in a young man with elevated blood pressures: an unusual presentation of phaeochromocytoma.
We report an unusual presentation of phaeochromocytoma in a young man with a painful, pulsatile abdominal mass and elevated blood pressures. This led to a delay in diagnosis and resulted in the administration of triggers of catecholamine release, possibly causing a catecholamine surge. This caused the development of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy and multiple organ failure, requiring inotropic and ventilatory support, intra-aortic balloon pump and dialysis. Fortunately, his condition reversed with supportive treatment and alpha-adrenergic blockade. This illustrates the importance of having a high index of suspicion of phaeochromocytoma, especially in young patients with elevated blood pressures.
Department of Anaesthesia, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
B M K
BM
Lee
L K
LK
Ti
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*