Cardiomyopathy due to a pheochromocytoma - A reversible entity

A 45-year-old male presented with acute pulmonary oedema, chest pain and el ectrocardiographic manifestations of acute myocardial ischaemia in the sett ing of hypertension crisis from a hyperfunctioning large left-sided pheochr omocytoma. Coronary artery disease was excluded on the basis of thallium st ress testing and coronary angiography. The latter revealed a picture consis tent with dilated cardiomyopathy. After surgical resection of the tumour,bo th the hypercatecholaminaemia and the arterial hypertension subsided prompt ly with gradual improvement of the cardiomyopathy and complete resolution o f the congestive heart failure symptoms.