Pheochromocytoma successfully removed with the aid of piperoxan (benodaine) hydrochloride.

Abstract

There is little hope of inducing a complete and uncomplicated cure in most patients with severe persistent hypertension. However, occasionally one finds a chromaffin sympathetic nerve tumor producing both epinephrine and arterenol (nor-epinephrine) which is amenable to surgical removal. We report a case that is of interest because of the lengthy history, the differential diagnosis from essential and malignant hypertension, the response to a low sodium regimen, the question of the proper surgical approach and the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the newer adrenolytic substances, especially the hydrochloride salt of piperoxan (benodaine®), formerly known as benzodioxan (2-[1-piperidylmethyl]-1,4-benzodioxan, or 933 F). REPORT OF CASE History.— A. H., a white man aged 37, had always been in excellent health until 1940, when he first experienced a severe headache. He was awakened from a sound sleep by nausea, vomiting, chills and a severe generalized headache. A similar episode occurred in 1941. The