Bilateral pheochromocytoma during pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease of the chromaffin cells that secrete catecholamines. It may occur during pregnancy. Bilateral pheochromocytoma in pregnancy is even rarer.


METHODS
A 26-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 0-0-1-0, 18 weeks' pregnancy, was initially seen with elevated blood pressure (170/100 mmHg) and mild headache. The cause of hypertension was conventionally investigated and bilateral pheochromocytoma was finally searched for and found. Bilateral adrenalectomy was undertaken at 23 weeks' gestation and Cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks' gestation due to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and compromised fetal well-being. The maternal outcome was uneventful and the baby was physiologically complicated only by neonatal jaundice.


CONCLUSIONS
Pheochromocytoma should be searched for in the conventionally differential diagnosis in hypertension during pregnancy, especially in the young. Early diagnosis and proper management with medical treatment followed by surgical removal of the tumor usually result in good maternal and fetal outcomes.
Phupong
Vorapong
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. vorapong.p@chula.ac.th
Witoonpanich
Pairoj
P
Snabboon
Thiti
T
Tharavej
Chadin
C
Ultchaswadi
Pornthip
P
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third