Acute appendicitis in a patient with undiagnosed pheochromocytoma.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor that can cause severe hypertension and other systemic disturbances. A clinical challenge arises when a patient with a previously undiagnosed and untreated pheochromocytoma presents with a surgical emergency. We describe a patient presenting with acute appendicitis in whom surgery was cancelled because of suspected pheochromocytoma. The possibility of mortality associated with surgery in a patient with an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma outweighed the risk of nonoperative management for appendicitis. This case resulted in a nonoperative resolution of appendicitis and an unremarkable recovery once appropriate hypertension treatment was administered.

Medical Subject Headings

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adult; Appendectomy; Appendicitis; Female; Humans; Pheochromocytoma

Publication Date

2-1-2006

Publication Title

Anesthesia and analgesia

ISSN

1526-7598

Volume

102

Issue

2

First Page

642

Last Page

643

PubMed ID

16428577

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1213/01.ane.0000184827.79120.43

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