Recurrence and metastasis of pheochromocytoma mimic acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

ABSTRACT

Pheochromocytomas are cathecholamine-secreting tumor and may present with numerous of general symptoms, such as hypertension,pallor, headache tachycardia, chest pain, and cold sweating. Cardiac manifestations include typical angina, electrocardiographic change, and elevated cardiac biomarker. Transient systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle sometimes may happen with, the worst, heart failure and cardiogenic shock, in a similar manner of apical ballooning syndrome (Tokotsubo or stress cardiomyopathy) and mimics ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Here,we presented a case with past medical record of pheochromocytoma status postsuccessful surgical adrenalectomy many years ago, and she came to the emergency department with angina symptom. As first presentation of acute coronary syndrome via symptoms, electrocardiographic change, and elevated cardiac biomarkers,she underwent coronary angiography. No significant coronary occlusion but regional wall motion abnormality was found. However, a big adrenal mass in the left abdomen and multiple hepatic radiolucent lesions were detected accidentally by the meanwhile computed tomography that supposed to rule out the acute aortic syndrome.Recurrent pheochromocytoma with cathecholamine-related stress cardiomyopathy was confirmed thereafter.