title: Acute appendicitis in a patient with undiagnosed pheochromocytoma.
abstract: Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor that can cause severe hypertension and other systemic disturbances. A clinical challenge arises when a patient with a previously undiagnosed and untreated pheochromocytoma presents with a surgical emergency. We describe a patient presenting with acute appendicitis in whom surgery was cancelled because of suspected pheochromocytoma. The possibility of mortality associated with surgery in a patient with an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma outweighed the risk of nonoperative management for appendicitis. This case resulted in a nonoperative resolution of appendicitis and an unremarkable recovery once appropriate hypertension treatment was administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134-1005, USA.
authors.forename: Nicki S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Tarant
authors.forename: Rhodel G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dacanay
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mecklenburg
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Birmingham
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lujan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis