A Case of Pheochromocytoma with Recurrent Strokes

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 11(4); 1993 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1993;11(4): 622-626.

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권오영, 강성수,김승현,김주한,김명호,장대일

한양대학교 신경과. 경희대학교 신경과.

A Case of Pheochromocytoma with Recurrent Strokes

Oh-Young Kwon, M.D., Sung-Soo Kang, M.D., Seung-Hyun Kim, M.D., Joo-Han Kim, M.D., Myung-Ho Kim, M.D., Dae-Il Chang, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine Hanyang University, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine Kyung Hee University

Abstract

When recurrent strokes are encountered due to malignant hvpertension. Pheochromocytoma should be considered as one of the cause. Pheochromocytoma is the condition of hypersecretion of catecholamines by chromaffin cells. Anxiety, nervousness,.ps!chosis, paroxysmal throbbing headache, visual disturbance, tremor, numbness and paresthesia are common neurologic manifestation of this disease and these manifestations can mimick neuropsychiatric disease. This tumor can be associated with heredofamilial dysplasias of neuroetodermal origin. Although pheochromocytoma is a medical emergency uhich has spectacular cerebrovascular disturbances and can be potenitally fatal. It can be curable by surgical resection. It is also one of the most important causes of voung-adult onset stroke. This tumor is of great interest to the neurologist for these reasons. We report a 33-year-old woman with malignant hypertension and recurrent strokes. As the case of malignant hypertension, pleochromocytoma was confirrned by biochemical studies, abdominal ultrasound and abdominal computerized tomogram. Her blood pressure and general condition were stabilized after resection of the tumor.