Adrenal Pheochromocytoma Incidentally Discovered in a Patient With Parkinsonism.
To evaluate the diagnostic route of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in a patient under dopaminergic treatment.A 70-year-old man with Parkinsonism and under treatment with levodopa and carbidopa came to our observation for evaluation of arterial hypertension and right adrenal mass discovered incidentally.To evaluate adrenal hormone levels we performed a dexamethasone suppression test, plasma aldosterone levels and 24-hr urinary metanephrine, which revealed elevated levels of catecholamines metabolities. 123-I-metaiodobenzylguanidine SPECT scintiscan revealed raised activity within the right adrenal gland concordant with the mass. The diagnosis of PHEO was posed and an elective laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed; histopathological examination confirmed the PHEO diagnosis.Recently the coexistence of PHEO and Parkinsonism is a very rare association of diseases, with only 3 cases reported in literature. In this article, another case is reported and diagnostic procedures are discussed.
From the Specialized Center of Secondary Hypertension (LP, AC, CM, LZ, CL); Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (LP, AC, CM, LZ, GI, PL, CL); and Department of Radiology, Section Nuclear Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy (GDV).
Luigi
L
Petramala
Antonio
A
Concistrè
Cristiano
C
Marinelli
Laura
L
Zinnamosca
Gino
G
Iannucci
Piernatale
P
Lucia
Giuseppe
G
De Vincentis
Claudio
C
Letizia
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*