A Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland

Authors: Pan, Zenggang¹; Repertinger, Susan¹; Deng, Caishu¹; Sharma, Poonam²

Source: Endocrine Pathology, Volume 19, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 133-138(6)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $42.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Adrenal pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors that originate from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla, and giant pheochromocytomas with cystic changes are particularly rare. We report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with episodic hypertension and headache. Radiographic studies showed an 18-cm cystic mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen; further workups, which included light microscopy, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic analysis, revealed a pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland. Cytogenetic analysis and genetic mutation analyses for von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL), rearranged during transfection (RET), and succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit B (SDHB) genes were also performed but failed to reveal any abnormalities within the tumor cells.

Keywords: pheochromocytoma; giant; adrenal gland

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12022-008-9016-4

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pathology, Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30th St., Omaha, NE, 68131, USA, 2: Department of Pathology, Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30th St., Omaha, NE, 68131, USA, Email: psharma@creighton.edu

Publication date: 2008-06-01