Pheochromocytoma-related ‘classic’ takotsubo cardiomyopathy

We report a case of a 53-year-old hypertensive male with takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma presenting as takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a recognized but uncommon occurrence with recently increasing number of published cases. We present typical apical ballooning syndrome, with transient left ventricular apical ballooning in contrast to several reports, in which patients with pheochromocytoma-induced cardiomyopathy had so called 'inverted'takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In patients being diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome symptoms without coronary artery stenosis or spasm, and pronounced blood pressure variability, pheochromocytoma-induced takotsubo or 'inverted' takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be kept in mind.