Nonfunctioning benign cardiac pheochromocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
Nonfunctioning benign cardiac pheochromocytoma is one of the rarest tumors and only a few cases have been described before. We present a rare case of nonfunctioning benign cardiac pheochromocytoma and a review of the literature with special emphasis on diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
Different from the other cardiac pheochromocytomas, its symptoms and signs are so nonspecific that it is easy to make a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. One patient with nonfunctioning benign cardiac pheochromocytoma was treated surgically and relevant cases data were collected. Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma were discussed.


RESULTS
The presented case was cured by surgery. The prognosis for patients of benign cardiac pheochromocytomas was excellent, but for those of malignant ones was very poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Reviewing the few reported cases, most nonfunctioning benign cardiac pheochromocytomas can be cured completely by operation with good prognosis.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, 324, Jingwu Road, 250021, Jinan, China. qingbao2004@sina.com
Qingbao
Q
Li
Quanxin
Q
Fan
Decai
D
Li
Haizhou
H
Zhang
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic