Drei fälle von phäochromozytom bei neurofibromatose typ 1: Assoziation zweier seltener erkrankungen

Translated title of the contribution: Three cases of pheochromocytoma in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: Association of rare diseases

R. D. Klingenberg*, B. Frühwald-Schultes, A. Peters, H. L. Fehm

*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors, that can be found in approximately 0.1% of all cases of arterial hypertension. The association of pheochromocytomas and MEN-2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2), von Hippel-Lindau-syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1, von Recklinghausen's disease) is well documented. Due to the rare number of cases and the commonly atypical presentation, only contradictory data exist about the frequency of the association of pheochromocytomas and NF 1. Here, we report about three female patients with NF 1 in whom we found pheochromocytoma. Only one of the three patients presented with typical arterial hypertension complicated by hypertensive crises. The other two patients showed normotensive or even hypotensive blood pressure values intermitted by phases of blood pressure crisis, headaches, and vertigo. The diagnostic procedure included the measurements of catecholamines and metabolites concentrations in 24 hour urine samples as well as in plasma samples, magnet resonance imaging of the adrenal glands and functional diagnostics by 123iodine MIBG scan. In one patient, the only pathological laboratory finding was an elevated concentration of metanephrine in a 24 hour urine sample. The other patients showed elevated concentrations of catecholamines and metabolites in both the urine and plasma samples. The tumors of all three patients were surgically resected. At present, all three patients participate in the follow up studies, so that we are able to present the results up to 6 months after surgery. The three cases reported here provide clinical examples for the association between NF 1 and pheochromocytomas. These examples may hint to the importance of excluding pheochromocytomas in NF 1 patients with atypical blood pressure profiles, even with intermittant hypotension.

Translated title of the contributionThree cases of pheochromocytoma in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: Association of rare diseases
Original languageGerman
JournalTumor Diagnostik und Therapie
Volume22
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)30-35
Number of pages6
ISSN0722-219X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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