Coronary emergency and diabetes as manifestations of pheochromocytoma

Abstract

We report on a woman with refractory hypertension and diabetes suffering from hypertensive crises, one with chest pain suggesting acute coronary syndrome, and another with an abdominal pain, after which a para-aortic abdominal mass was diagnosed, by ultrasound, as pheochromocytoma, later confirmed by an adrenal scintigraphic study with (131)I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine. The patient was successfully treated with complete reversal of hypertension and diabetes. Our case illustrates the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients simultaneously presenting with an acute myocardial event and hypertensive crises.