[Severe arterial hypertension and pheochromocytoma in childhood. Case report and review of the literature].

Pheochromocytoma was diagnosed in a 14 year old boy twenty-four months after the onset of symptoms. The diagnosis was made during a severe hypertensive crisis. Previously, the child had been followed up for delayed growth and functional psychiatric symptoms. After investigation, the tumour was removed by a trained surgical team. Pheochromocytoma usually arises from the adrenal gland and secretes catecholamines. It is less common in children than in adults. The presentation is very variable with hypertension as the main sign. The diagnosis is based on the finding of raised urinary catecholamines and CT scanning with scintigraphy for localising the tumour. These cases should be managed by teams familiar with this pathology because of the risk of catecholamine discharge, the need for complementary investigation of associated disease, the medical preoperative preparation and the specificity of the surgical intervention.