Normotensive Pheochromocytoma Critical Presentation

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a rare clinical disorder with great variability of the clinical onset, mimicking a variety of conditions. The initial presentation under severe and unusual shapes can make diagnosis difficult and delaying proper therapy. Case Report: The clinical presentation depends on the magnitude of secretion and the nature of circulating catecholamines. Normotension is described in 5-15% of patients. The authors report the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a past medical history of peripartum cardiomyopathy and paroxysms, with documented normotension (06/2007). The patient was observed due to acute respiratory insufficiency, diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by heart failure (05/2013). Thoracic computed tomography revealed a left adrenal mass, and further evaluation established the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Discussion: Symptomatic improvement and reversal of cardiomyopathy were documented, after proper diagnosis and treatment.