Computed tomography-guided percutaneous cryoablation of hereditary adrenal pheochromocytoma in three patients

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2024 May 30;37(7):657-662. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2024-0033. Print 2024 Jul 26.

Abstract

Objectives: Pheochromocytomas (PHEO) are neuroendocrine tumors rarely diagnosed in children. We are reporting on the management challenges of three adolescent patients who present with hereditary PHEO.

Case presentation: The index patient and his male sibling presented with bilateral PHEO, while a third patient presented with a unilateral PHEO, all associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. The patients were treated with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous cryoablation (CRA) of the adrenal lesions, with varying degrees of success.

Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous CRA of hereditary PHEO has not been reported in the pediatric population and may represent a novel treatment strategy that reduces the risk of intraprocedural complications and adrenal insufficiency (AI).

Keywords: adrenal insufficiency; pheochromocytoma; von Hippel–Lindau syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Child
  • Cryosurgery* / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pheochromocytoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pheochromocytoma* / surgery
  • Prognosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • von Hippel-Lindau Disease / complications
  • von Hippel-Lindau Disease / surgery