International Journal of Clinical Case Report 2016, Vol.6, No.19, 1-3
3
from neural crest and they are sporadic or familial and then isolated or integrated into multiple endocrine
neoplasia (MEN type 1 and 2), phacomatosis (von Recklinghausen disease) or von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL).
The etiologies of the adrenal incidentalomas are multiple and their rates are 4.7% (Tabuchi et al., 2015) and
11.68% (Li et al., 2015).
The time risk of developing pheochromocytoma is 48-54 months (Loh et al., 2015). The incidence of
pheochromocytoma is 0.4% (Loh et al., 2015). Otherwise, the tumor size exceeding 5cm is a criterion for a higher
risk of malignancy (Lenderz et al., 2005). In his study, Azzoug S reported 10% of cases of malignant
pheochromocytomas (Azzoug et al., 2015). Despite the benign character of the tumor, a long term follow- up is
necessary (Haddam et al., 2015).
Otherwise, Tancić-Gajić reported the case of a female, 56 years old, followed for an adrenal incidentaloma with
MEN type 1 undiagnosed, and which the pheochromocytoma was undetected with a not confirmed diagnosis at
biology despite a suggestive clinical picture (Tancić-Gajić et al., 2008). A MRI in favour of an adrenal
pheochromocytoma and a positive MIBG scintigraphy led to surgery. Histology revealed a left adrenal
pheochromocytoma.
4 Conclusion
The management of pheochromocytoma is multidisciplinary. Properly operated, the pheochromocytoma is
radically and permanently cured if it is benign and sporadic.
Author’s contributions
By signing this letter each of us acknowledges that she or he participated sufficiently in the work to take public
responsibility for it. We also declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this
scientific work.
References
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Haddam A.E.M., Fedala S.N., Chentli F., and Meskine D., 2015, Malignant Pheochromocytoma: about Two New Cases, International
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