Late diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in pregnancy with poor fetal outcome

Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors producing catecholamines that could be a cause of secondary hypertension. On that basis, pheochromocytoma can occur as an extremely rare cause of hypertension in pregnancy and if diagnosed late can lead to adverse maternal-fetal outcome. In this case report we describe a case of pheochromocytoma affected pregnancy with poor fetal outcome. A 27-year-old pregnant woman was admitted for severe pre-eclampsia due to pre-gestational hypertension that was diagnosed during the first trimester. Due to high and uncontrolled maternal blood pressure and the worsened maternal-fetal condition after the admission induction of fetal lung maturity and emergency cesarean section were performed, but with poor fetal outcome. Later, an adrenal gland mass was identified using abdominal ultrasound and confirmed by computed tomography. After surgical adrenalectomy blood pressure of the patient was normalized. Pheochromocytoma should be considered as a possible cause of hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, particularly in cases of severe and unresponsive hypertension in order to provide for timely and appropriate treatment.

Keywords

• pheochromocytoma
• pregnancy
• hypertension
• intrauterine growth restriction
• maternal-fetal outcome