A Looming Danger: Pheochromocytoma

Li et al examine the case of a 43-year-old woman with abdominal pain. The patient was given a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. After admission, the patient was managed with conservative therapy, including no food or liquid by mouth, intravenous hydration, and pain management. Oral phenoxybenzamine therapy was administered after the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by the hormonal studies. She continued to experience right upper quadrant abdominal pain, though her serum amylase and lipase levels had returned to the normal ranges by hospital day 3. Meanwhile, her blood pressure fluctuated widely, with measurements greater than 180/100 mm Hg on several occasions. This was most likely the result of catecholamine release from the pheochromocytoma in response to persistent cholecystitis-related pain.