The Association of Pheochromocytoma with Intercarotid Chemodectomas: A Case Report

Abstract

Despite being a rare tumor, pheochromocytoma still raised great concerns among physicians and surgeons because it can cause curable secondary hypertension. A pheochromocytoma usually arises from chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medullo, but in may arise from chromaffin tissue of the sympathetic paraganglia as well. Carotid body tumors (Previously known as chemodectomas or glomus tumors) that arise from intercarotid chromaffin tissues are rarely functional. Few reports have suggested that pheochromocytoma occurs in patients with chemodectomas. Here we report a case of an associated concurrence of pheochromocytoma and prior intercarotid chemodectomas. This case alerts us that if a patient is found to have carotid body tumors , early study for possible pheochromocytoma is advised.