A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a medical emergency. Berry aneurysm rupture is the second most common cause following trauma. Diagnosis is often challenging. Neurogenic heart syndrome often complicates subarachnoid hemorrhage. A concomitant pheochromocytoma can be deadly causing sudden cardiac arrhythmia...

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Main Authors: Ana B. Arevalo, Jacxelyn Moran, Stephen Zink, Binny Khandakar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pathology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2905078
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author Ana B. Arevalo
Jacxelyn Moran
Stephen Zink
Binny Khandakar
author_facet Ana B. Arevalo
Jacxelyn Moran
Stephen Zink
Binny Khandakar
author_sort Ana B. Arevalo
collection DOAJ
description Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a medical emergency. Berry aneurysm rupture is the second most common cause following trauma. Diagnosis is often challenging. Neurogenic heart syndrome often complicates subarachnoid hemorrhage. A concomitant pheochromocytoma can be deadly causing sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Here, we describe a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage with concomitant incidental pheochromocytoma in a relatively young female who died suddenly, diagnosed during autopsy. A 57-year-old Hispanic woman with past medical history of asthma, prediabetes, and uncontrolled hypertension collapsed unexpectedly. She initially had ventricular tachycardia, followed by pulseless electrical activity and finally asystole without response to resuscitation. In the emergency department she was on epinephrine, calcium, naloxone, and tPA with suspected thrombotic stroke. Despite measures, she was pronounced dead. Autopsy revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured berry aneurysm. Additionally, pheochromocytoma was detected in the right adrenal gland. Subarachnoid hemorrhage has a grave prognosis by itself. This case describes the uncommon detection of pheochromocytoma in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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spelling doaj-art-e5eb4d2831454bf4bb408572d1ade46d2025-08-20T03:26:04ZengWileyCase Reports in Pathology2090-67812090-679X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/29050782905078A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry AneurysmAna B. Arevalo0Jacxelyn Moran1Stephen Zink2Binny Khandakar3Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West-St. Luke’s, New York, NY 10019, USADepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West-St. Luke’s, New York, NY 10019, USADepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY 10019, USADepartment of Pathology, Mount Sinai Health System/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West-St. Luke’s, New York, NY 10019, USASubarachnoid hemorrhage is a medical emergency. Berry aneurysm rupture is the second most common cause following trauma. Diagnosis is often challenging. Neurogenic heart syndrome often complicates subarachnoid hemorrhage. A concomitant pheochromocytoma can be deadly causing sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Here, we describe a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage with concomitant incidental pheochromocytoma in a relatively young female who died suddenly, diagnosed during autopsy. A 57-year-old Hispanic woman with past medical history of asthma, prediabetes, and uncontrolled hypertension collapsed unexpectedly. She initially had ventricular tachycardia, followed by pulseless electrical activity and finally asystole without response to resuscitation. In the emergency department she was on epinephrine, calcium, naloxone, and tPA with suspected thrombotic stroke. Despite measures, she was pronounced dead. Autopsy revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured berry aneurysm. Additionally, pheochromocytoma was detected in the right adrenal gland. Subarachnoid hemorrhage has a grave prognosis by itself. This case describes the uncommon detection of pheochromocytoma in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2905078
spellingShingle Ana B. Arevalo
Jacxelyn Moran
Stephen Zink
Binny Khandakar
A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
Case Reports in Pathology
title A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
title_full A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
title_fullStr A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
title_full_unstemmed A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
title_short A Case of Sudden Death: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Pheochromocytoma, Berry Aneurysm
title_sort case of sudden death subarachnoid hemorrhage pheochromocytoma berry aneurysm
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2905078
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