Pheochromocytoma related myocardial injury mimic as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background The symptoms due to the hypersecretion of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma can mimic more than 30 medical disorders. Identification of atypical symptoms related to pheochromocytoma is a challenge for clinicians. In the current case, we report a patient presented with a myocardial injury mimicked myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), which is rare in pheochromocytoma. Case presentation: A 72-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department with a chief complaint of recurrent chest pain, and his 12-leads ECG showed a sinus rhythm with V1-V4 large upright peaked T-wave. The level of cardiac troponin was elevated. Coronary angiography found no evidence of obstructive coronary arteries. Computed tomographic scan, serum normetanephrine, norepinephrine, and metanephrines supported the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, which was finally documented by histopathology. Conclusions When a patient of MINOCA was proposed, pheochromocytomas should not be ignored in the differential diagnosis.