Severe hypertension complicating pregnancy, pheochromocytoma: A rare case report

Authors : Ruchi Kalra, Sushil Jindal, Sanjay P Dave, Shefali Bansal, B M Loya

DOI : 10.18231/j.ijogr.2020.028

Volume : 7

Issue : 1

Year : 2020

Page No : 129-132

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor arising in the adrenal medulla, It is a catecholamineproducing
tumor. It’s prevalence in hypertensive patients is 0.2%, and 0.002% of pregnancies. Its clinical
presentation is typically hallmarked by sustained or intermittent hypertension associated with paroxysmal
symptoms. Pheochromocytoma should also be considered if a patient has labile hypertension, hypertension
resistant to treat by antihypertensive therapy, or paroxysmal symptoms (“spells”). Correct diagnosis is
essential as surgical resection of the tumor dramatically reverses the clinical symptoms and may cure the
hypertension. Pheochromocytoma with clinical presentation was earliest reported in 1926 when Cesar
Roux in Switzerland and Charles H. Mayoin the United States successfully removed pheochromocytomas
to cure the catecholamine-associated symptom complex.
During pregnancy the clinical presentations can be easily confused with severe pre-eclampsia. The
presentation of uncontrolled hypertension and headache not responding to medication may be misleading
diagnose. It can be even more challenging if phechromocytoma is undiagnosed. This adrenal tumor also
increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome like abortion, still birth or pre term delivery.
We report this case from People’s College of Medical Science & Research Centre a case of
Pheochromocytoma with Pregnancy.

Keywords: Pheochromocytoma, prevalence in hypertensive.


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