Pheochromocytoma in pregnancy: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Hypertension is a common problem in pregnancy that can result in significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The common causes include pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension and essential hypertension. Although phaeochromocytoma is a rare cause of hypertension in pregnancy, it can lead to potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications for the mother and increased fetal mortality if left undiagnosed and untreated. The diagnosis can be confirmed by measurement of plasma and urinary catecholamines and their metabolities followed by radiological localization of the tumour. Surgical resection of the tumour after adequate pre-operative control of hypertension using sequential alpha- followed by beta-blockers is the definitive treatment. In pregnancy, depending on the gestation at which diagnosis is made, the optimal timing for surgery is during the late first or early second trimester. When the pregnancy is more advanced, medical management followed by combined caesarean section and tumour resection closer to term is preferred.