A predominantly adrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma.

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman who presented with diabetes, nausea, weight loss and sweating was found to have a phaeochromocytoma secreting adrenaline, with a small amount of N-methyladrenaline. There was no significant increase in noradrenaline secretion. She was normotensive, and developed profound hypotension in response to the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phenoxybenzamine. These features are unusual in phaeochromocytoma, but similar features occurred in the very few previous reported cases of pure adrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma. We conclude that it is important to identify such patients, so that they should not be given alpha-adrenergic antagonist drugs.

• Authors: J P Watson, E A Hughes, R L Bryan, N Lawson, A H Barnett
• Journal: The Quarterly journal of medicine (Q J Med) Vol. 76 Issue 279 Pg. 747-52 (Jul 1990) ISSN: 0033-5622 [Print] England
• PMID: 2217678 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Phenoxybenzamine
• Epinephrine

Topics

• Adrenal Gland Neoplasms (metabolism, therapy)
• Adrenalectomy
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Epinephrine (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypotension (chemically induced)
• Middle Aged
• Phenoxybenzamine (adverse effects)
• Pheochromocytoma (metabolism, therapy)