Eh. Sidibe et al., PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA WITH A FATAL OUTCOME - R EPORT OF 2 CASES SEEN IN DAKAR, La Semaine des hopitaux de Paris, 73(11-12), 1997, pp. 351-353
Three cases of pheochromocytoma were seen at the endocrinology-oriente
d internal medicine clinic of the Dakar Teaching Hospital between 1980
and 1995. The case of one of these patients with suggestive hormonal
findings who died before undergoing imaging studies and was not autops
ied is not reported. Of the other two patients, one was a woman with a
massive tumor who developed cardiovascular collapse of unknown etiolo
gy. The remaining patient was a smoker with diabetes mellitus, hyperch
olesterolemia, and thrombotic vascular disease. Moderate long-standing
smoking increases the coronary risk four-fold. A catecholamine-induce
d spasm was considered a Possible contributor to the vascular manifest
ations In this patient. These cases illustrate the potential severity
of pheochromocytoma.