Management of 3 Cases of Pheochromocytoma During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City: Lessons Learned

Emily A Japp; Amanda Leiter; Effie A Tsomos; Sarah A Reda; Alice C Levine

doi:10.1210/jendso/bvaa198

Management of 3 Cases of Pheochromocytoma During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City: Lessons Learned

J Endocr Soc. 2020 Dec 23;5(2):bvaa198. doi: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa198. eCollection 2021 Feb 1.

Authors

Emily A Japp¹, Amanda Leiter¹, Effie A Tsomos¹, Sarah A Reda¹, Alice C Levine¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Disease, Department of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis placed a pause on surgical management of nonemergency cases of pheochromocytoma, and it was essential for endocrinologists to provide both resourceful and safe care. At the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City during the peak of the pandemic, we encountered 3 patients with pheochromocytoma and mild symptoms that were medically managed for a prolonged period of time (7-18 weeks) prior to adrenalectomy. Patients were monitored biweekly via telemedicine, and antihypertensive medications were adjusted according to signs, symptoms, and adrenergic profiles. These cases demonstrate that prolonged medical management prior to surgery is feasible and effective in pheochromocytoma patients with mild symptoms and well-controlled blood pressures.

Keywords: COVID-19; adrenal mass; pheochromocytoma.

Publication types

Case Reports