Right adrenal recurrence of a pheochromocytoma twenty four years after ablation of two ectopic pheochromocytomas

The classical localisation of chromaffin cell tumours is intra-adrenal. Ect opic or multiple tumours are not rare and are commonly observed in children . The authors report a case of ectopic pheochromocytoma with a double local isation in a 14 year old child (renal pedicle and right retropleural space) , in which surgical ablation resulted in an immediate and sustained correct ion of the hypertension. Hypertension recurred 24 years later and a classical right adrenal pheochro mocytoma was demonstrated by methyl-iodo-benzylguanidine (M.I.B.G.) scintig raphy and abdominal CT scan. Right adrenalectomy resulted in normalisation of the hypertension once again without antihypertensive therapy with a foll ow-up of three years. Regular follow-up is necessary after ablation of a ph eochromocytoma, especially in children, even in the absence of a phacomatos is or multiple endocrine neoplastic syndromes.