[A false diagnosis of hypertrophic myocardiopathy in pheochromocytoma]

Arq Bras Cardiol. 1995 Aug;65(2):167-9.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

A 24 year-old man was admitted with hypertensive crises and diagnosis hypothesis of neurofibromathosis and pheochromocytoma with blood pressure of 150 x 110mmHg and in use of anti-hypertensive drugs. The electrocardiogram (EKG) showed left ventricle hypertrophy. An echocardiogram showed interventricular septum (IVS) thickness of 16mm, posterior wall (PW) thickness of 11mm (ratio IVS/PW was 1.4). Diastolic ventricular diameter was 39mm with gradient of 52mmHg and mild mitral-valve murmur by pulsate Doppler. Increased vanillylmandelic acid and metanephrines in a 24-hour sample of urine has confirmed diagnosis of pheochromocytoma within was localized by 131I metaiodobenzyl-guanidine scan and computerized axial tomography. The patient was submitted to right adrenalectomy. Blood pressure was normalized. Evaluation an year later revealed a healthy man with normal laboratory exams, EKG and echocardiogram. It seems that the hypertrophy was consequence of the hypertension and pheochromocytoma, was not hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adult
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / etiology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / complications
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Pheochromocytoma / complications
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnosis*
  • Prognosis