Necrosis of a Pheochromocytoma with Shock

Abstract

HEMORRHAGE into a pheochromocytoma with subsequent shock has been described but five times,^{1 2 3 4} with only one recorded survival. In no case was the diagnosis made before either surgical exploration or post-mortem examination.Case ReportA 32-year-old housewife had a 4-year history of intermittent episodes of throbbing headache, palpitation, anxiety, tremulousness, flushing or pallor and blurred vision. Six months before admission, the frequency of these spells increased from 1 or 2 per week to 3 or 4 each day.In the month before admission laboratory evaluation revealed 24-hour urinary vanillyl-mandelic acid excretions of 13 and 14 mg (normal, 0.7 to 6.8 . . .