Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Giant pheochromocytomas are rare silent entities that do not present with the classical symptoms commonly seen in catecholamine-secreting tumors. In many cases they are accidentally discovered. The algorithm to diagnose a pheochromocytoma consists of biochemical evaluation and imaging of a retroperi...

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Main Authors: Ravi Maharaj, Sangeeta Parbhu, Wesley Ramcharan, Shanta Baijoo, Wesley Greaves, Dave Harnanan, Wayne A. Warner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4638608
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author Ravi Maharaj
Sangeeta Parbhu
Wesley Ramcharan
Shanta Baijoo
Wesley Greaves
Dave Harnanan
Wayne A. Warner
author_facet Ravi Maharaj
Sangeeta Parbhu
Wesley Ramcharan
Shanta Baijoo
Wesley Greaves
Dave Harnanan
Wayne A. Warner
author_sort Ravi Maharaj
collection DOAJ
description Giant pheochromocytomas are rare silent entities that do not present with the classical symptoms commonly seen in catecholamine-secreting tumors. In many cases they are accidentally discovered. The algorithm to diagnose a pheochromocytoma consists of biochemical evaluation and imaging of a retroperitoneal mass. The female patient in this case report presented with a palpable abdominal mass and was cured with surgical resection. She suffered no recurrence or complications on follow-up. The left retroperitoneal mass measured 27 × 18 × 12 cm and weighed 3,315 grams. Biochemical, radiological, and pathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma. In this paper, we report on our experience treating this patient and provide a summary of all giant pheochromocytomas greater than 10 cm reported to date in English language medical journals. Our patient’s giant cystic pheochromocytoma was the fourth heaviest and fifth largest maximal diameter identified using our literature search criteria. Additionally, this tumor had the largest maximal diameter of all histologically confirmed benign/low metastatic risk pheochromocytomas. Giant cystic pheochromocytomas are rare entities requiring clinical suspicion coupled with strategic diagnostic evaluation to confirm the diagnosis.
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publishDate 2017-01-01
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series Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
spelling doaj-art-59eacacb453b497ba50eef6d281abf3f2025-08-20T03:34:38ZengWileyCase Reports in Oncological Medicine2090-67062090-67142017-01-01201710.1155/2017/46386084638608Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature ReviewRavi Maharaj0Sangeeta Parbhu1Wesley Ramcharan2Shanta Baijoo3Wesley Greaves4Dave Harnanan5Wayne A. Warner6Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and TobagoDivision of Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USAGiant pheochromocytomas are rare silent entities that do not present with the classical symptoms commonly seen in catecholamine-secreting tumors. In many cases they are accidentally discovered. The algorithm to diagnose a pheochromocytoma consists of biochemical evaluation and imaging of a retroperitoneal mass. The female patient in this case report presented with a palpable abdominal mass and was cured with surgical resection. She suffered no recurrence or complications on follow-up. The left retroperitoneal mass measured 27 × 18 × 12 cm and weighed 3,315 grams. Biochemical, radiological, and pathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma. In this paper, we report on our experience treating this patient and provide a summary of all giant pheochromocytomas greater than 10 cm reported to date in English language medical journals. Our patient’s giant cystic pheochromocytoma was the fourth heaviest and fifth largest maximal diameter identified using our literature search criteria. Additionally, this tumor had the largest maximal diameter of all histologically confirmed benign/low metastatic risk pheochromocytomas. Giant cystic pheochromocytomas are rare entities requiring clinical suspicion coupled with strategic diagnostic evaluation to confirm the diagnosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4638608
spellingShingle Ravi Maharaj
Sangeeta Parbhu
Wesley Ramcharan
Shanta Baijoo
Wesley Greaves
Dave Harnanan
Wayne A. Warner
Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
title Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_fullStr Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_short Giant Cystic Pheochromocytoma with Low Risk of Malignancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_sort giant cystic pheochromocytoma with low risk of malignancy a case report and literature review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4638608
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