A patient with pheochromocytoma and hyperaldosteronism: dual corticomedullary tumor

BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytoma and primary hyperaldosteronism rarely ocur simultaneously. Few cases have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: A patient explored for hypertension was found to have hypokaliemia related to primary hyperaldosteronism. Pathology examination of the ablated adrenal showed a coexisting pheochromocytoma sus pected at history taking although urine catecholamines were normal. DISCUSSION: Different pathogenic hypothesis have been proposed. Such dual tumors could be a simple coincidence, occur in a particular genetic setting, be related to direct contact between cortical and medullary tissue leading to reactional cortical hyperplasia, pheochromocytoma produced factors stimulating aldosterone synthesis, or factor X, a substance produced by cortical adenomas and favoring growth of the pheochromocytoma.