Much more than anxiety.

BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Aug 5:2015:bcr2015211393. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-211393.

Abstract

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare neuroendocrine tumours in paediatric ages. We report a case of a 14-year-old girl referred to our oncology centre due to an abdominal mass. She had an 11-month history of paroxysmal episodes of headache, nausea, dizziness, palpitations and visual disturbances. Imaging studies showed a left paravertebral mass measuring 5.8 × 4.6 × 3.5 cm. Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy revealed an abnormal hyperfixation on the left upper quadrant. Chromogranin A was elevated, as well as normetanephrine. The patient was submitted to surgery during which a connection between this mass and the adrenal gland was found. A diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was performed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine / metabolism*
  • Abdomen / surgery*
  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Glands / metabolism
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology*
  • Anxiety
  • Chromogranin A / urine
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Normetanephrine / urine
  • Paraganglioma / diagnosis
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnosis*
  • Pheochromocytoma / metabolism
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Chromogranin A
  • Normetanephrine
  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine