Pheochromocytoma With Brown Adipose Tissue Stimulation: A Case Report

Cureus. 2024 Feb 25;16(2):e54884. doi: 10.7759/cureus.54884. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue represents about 1% of the adult body mass and decreases with age. Under variable circumstances, this amount changes, for example, with age or environmental conditions. Pathological states with hypersecretion of catecholamines can induce hypertrophy and hyperplasia in mature brown adipocytes. Consequently, this response can have imaging representation as pseudonodules, a pitfall in imaging interpretation, and may be confused with neoplastic involvement. A case of pheochromocytoma with brown fat stimulation and catecholamine cardiomyopathy is presented.

Keywords: adrenal gland incidentaloma; brown adipose tissue; catecholamine cardiomyopathy; ct; mri; pet-ct; pheochromocytomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports