title: Pheochromocytoma Multisystem Crisis Behaving Like Interstitial Pneumonia: An Autopsy Case.
abstract: Pheochromocytoma multisystem crisis is a rare and life-threatening disease that is associated with numerous symptoms and which is also difficult to diagnose. We herein report an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man who died due to pheochromocytoma multisystem crisis. The patient complained of vomiting and breathlessness. Computed tomography showed a shadow-like region with a similar appearance to interstitial pneumonia. The patient was diagnosed with takotsubo cardiomyopathy induced by severe lung disease based on the results of echocardiography and coronary angiography. The patient was treated for interstitial pneumonia. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated and he died 6 hours after arrival. We were later informed of his extremely high catecholamine serum levels. We found pheochromocytoma with hemorrhage at autopsy. The patient's lungs showed acute passive congestion with edema and extravasation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fuchu Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yohta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamimori
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed