Pheochromocytoma, "the Great Masquerader," Presenting as Severe Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in a Young Patient

Case Rep Cardiol. 2018 Apr 29:2018:8767801. doi: 10.1155/2018/8767801. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

A 22-year-old man presented to the hospital with progressive shortness of breath, chest discomfort, sinus tachycardia, and emesis. The echocardiogram demonstrated global hypokinesis with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 15-20%. The patient was treated for acute systolic heart failure decompensation with diuresis and afterload reduction. Unexpectedly, an abdominal computed tomography showed a left adrenal mass and subsequent serum/urine metanephrine tests suggested pheochromocytoma. Once the patient had stabilized, he underwent an uneventful adrenalectomy with histology results confirming the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. After six months follow-up, he is currently doing well with close outpatient follow-up by cardiology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports