Coexistence of a pituitary macroadenoma and pheochromocytoma--a case report and review of the literature.
A 59-year old man, who had a hypertensive crisis during transsphenoidal surgery for a pituitary macroadenoma, was subsequently found to have an adrenal pheochromocytoma. A total of twenty-five cases describing the coexistence of a pituitary adenoma and pheochromocytoma have been reported in the literature over the past 40 years. Among pituitary tumors, acromegaly has been the most common. In an effort to identify the relationship between the two tumors, multiple theories have been suggested including fortuitous association, overlap or variants of MEN syndromes, and ectopic production of a trophic hormone by the pheochromocytoma. The high risk of mortality and morbidity associated with undiagnosed pheochromocytoma warrants careful attention to the possibility of such a coexistence.
Breckenridge
Suzanne M
SM
Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Hamrahian
Amir H
AH
Faiman
Charles
C
Suh
John
J
Prayson
Richard
R
Mayberg
Marc
M
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009377:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*