Benign pheochromocytoma associated with colorectal cancer: Case report

Abstract

Among all cancers, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death. Liver and lung are known as the main metastatic sites of colorectal cancer, on the other hand the metastasis of adrenal is clinically rare. Formerly, metastases were detected at autopsy, but due to improved imaging and diagnostic techniques, many of these lesions now can be detected on routine followup imaging. Patients with adrenal metastasis are considered having systemic spread and therefore unsuitable for surgical resection. That’s why, isolated adrenal metastasis presents a therapeutic dilemma in colorectal cancer patients. In this case, we report an adrenal mass in a patient with colorectal cancer to whom rectosigmoidectomy, colectomy and adrenal metastasectomy were performed. The adrenal mass was benign. For solitary and resectable lesions adrenalectomy can be performed and prolonged survival can be achieved in selected patients. Also, this enables to achieve right histopathological diagnosis.