title: Fever with multiple organ failure: not always sepsis.
abstract: We present the case of a 52-year-old female admitted with fever and multiple organ failure, initially treated for presumed sepsis. However the combination of multiple organ failure, hyperthermia and vascular instability raised the suspicion of a phaeochromocytoma multisystem crisis. An emergency abdominal ultrasound in the intensive care unit disclosed a large tumour of the right adrenal. Despite specific medical treatment for the presumed adrenal emergency and multiple organ failure, the patient succumbed. Postmortem examination verified the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiology and Intensive Care Unit, Patras University Hospital, Patras, Achaia, Greece. pdav@otenet.gr
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Davlouros
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velissaris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsiola
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Filos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*