Case Report: A giant but silent adrenal pheochromocytoma - a rare entity

Cardiovascular events and biochemically negative paragangliomas: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To study cardiovascular morbidity in patients with biochemically inactive pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched by two independent reviewers to identify relevant studies. Twenty-four case reports (n = 24 patients) met the inclusion criteria providing data on the cardiovascular status of biochemically negative pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas patients. Methodological quality was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system, and all included studies were assessed for the risk of bias. This systematic review was conducted in conformance with the PRISMA statement and registered to PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024530601).

RESULTS

Almost half of patients (46%) presented objective abnormal findings on noninvasive cardiovascular examination performed routinely before surgery, whereas 67% complained of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma-related symptoms (angina, headache, diaphoresis, shortness of breath, palpitations) and exhibited relevant clinical signs (hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, pallor). Preoperatively, only 38% of patients with biochemically negative pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas were treated with alpha-blockers, 25% did not receive any pharmaceutical preparation whereas data were not available for the remaining 37% of patients. Following an uneventful surgery, 70% of patients exhibited resolution of the preoperatively detected cardiovascular symptoms and signs.

CONCLUSION

The high occurrence of cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas characterized as "biochemically negative" based on routine biochemical analyses highlights the difficulty in the appropriate classification of these tumors regarding their secretory profile and thus the risk of missing cardiovascular system involvement with potentially deleterious effects.

L, Heredia-Espín M, Arias-Intriago M, Izquierdo-Condoy JS. Pheochromocytoma: an updated scoping review from clinical presentation to management and treatment

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors derived from chromaffin cells, with 80-85% originating in the adrenal medulla and 15-20% from extra-adrenal chromaffin tissues (paragangliomas). Approximately 30-40% of PPGLs have a hereditary component, making them one of the most genetically predisposed tumor types. Recent advances in genetic research have classified PPGLs into three molecular clusters: pseudohypoxia-related, kinase-signaling, and WNT-signaling pathway variants. Specifically, the detection of SDHB-related tumors indicates an increased risk of metastatic disease, which may impact decisions regarding functional imaging in patients with high suspicion of metastasis and influence targeted treatment strategies. Diagnosis of PPGLs primarily relies on biochemical testing, measuring catecholamines or their metabolites in plasma or urine. However, molecular testing, functional imaging, and targeted therapies have greatly enhanced diagnostic precision and management. Personalized treatment approaches based on genetic profiling are becoming integral to the clinical management of these tumors. In South American countries like Colombia, functional imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with tracers like 18F-DOPA, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), and 68Ga-DOTA-conjugated somatostatin receptor-targeting peptides (68Ga-DOTA-SST) are used to guide follow-up and treatment strategies. Radionuclide therapy with lutetium-177 DOTATATE is employed for patients showing uptake in 68Ga-DOTA-SST PET/CT scans, while access to 131-MIBG therapy remains limited due to high costs and availability. Recent clinical trials have shown promise for systemic therapies such as sunitinib and cabozantinib, offering potential new options for patients with slow or moderate progression of PPGLs. These advancements underscore the potential of personalized and targeted therapies to improve outcomes in this challenging patient population.

Silent pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: Systematic review and proposed definitions for standardized terminology

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors with heterogeneous clinical presentations and potential lethal outcomes. The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, biochemical testing, imaging and histopathological confirmation. Increasingly widespread use of imaging studies and surveillance of patients at risk of PPGL due to a hereditary background or a previous tumor is leading to the diagnosis of these tumors at an early stage. This has resulted in an increasing use of the term "silent" PPGL. This term and other variants are now commonly found in the literature without any clear or unified definition. Among the various terms, "clinically silent" is often used to describe the lack of signs and symptoms associated with catecholamine excess. Confusion arises when these and other terms are used to define the tumors according to their ability to synthesize and/or release catecholamines in relation to biochemical test results. In such cases the term "silent" and other variants are often inappropriately and misleadingly used. In the present analysis we provide an overview of the literature and propose standardized terminology in an attempt at harmonization to facilitate scientific communication.

Laparoscopic resection of a large clinically silent paraganglioma at the organ of Zuckerkandl: a rare case report and review of the literature

Background

Large paraganglioma of the Zuckerkandl organ (POZ) is extremely rare. The patient can occasionally be paucisymptomatic, further obscuring the diagnosis and carrying high mortality. Recommended treatment for large paraganglioma (PGL) is open surgical removal. We report a case of successful laparoscopic resection of a large POZ with normal blood pressure in a 45-year-old man.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old man was hospitalized because of hyperglycemia. Computed tomography of the abdomen and the serum and urinary catecholamine levels confirmed the diagnosis of large POZ. But his blood pressure was normal and he underwent laparoscopic tumor excision successfully. During 6 months follow-up after laparoscopy, serum and urinary catecholamines were normal but glycaemia remained high level. DNA analysis of the succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits B (SDHB) and SDHD revealed no mutation.

Conclusions

POZ is an unusual mass and preoperative diagnosis can be difficult in clinically silent cases. PGL cannot be excluded in patients with normal blood pressure. Even a large POZ can be excised laparoscopically by following proper techniques.

Giant cystic pheochromocytoma

A 56-year-old healthy woman presents with 2-year history of symptoms classic for pheochromocytoma. Evaluation revealed one of the largest cystic pheochromocytomas reported but without any metastatic disease. After achieving medical management of her symptoms, surgical removal was performed successfully and without any complications intraoperatively. Pathology of the mass confirmed the diagnosis. The patient had complete resolution of her symptoms thereafter.