Pheochromocytoma coexisting with renal artery lesions.

PURPOSE

Physiologically significant renal artery lesions in the presence of a pheochromocytoma comprise a confounding factor which may impact on the hypertension cure following excision of the pheochromocytoma. We present 10 cases of these dual lesions and review the literature on this entity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1952 to 1999, 269 patients were diagnosed with pheochromocytoma at our institution. Hospital charts of these patients were reviewed retrospectively to identify those with coexisting renal artery stenosis. A Medline search was performed to review the available literature.

RESULTS

Of the 269 patients with pheochromocytoma 10 (3. 7%) had coexisting renal artery lesions, including renal artery stenosis in 8, renal artery aneurysm in 1 and postangiographic dissection occlusion in 1. Pheochromocytoma was adrenal in 8 cases and ectopic in 2. Of the patients 9 have been treated to date by adrenalectomy in 4, nephroadrenalectomy in 3, adrenalectomy plus lysis of renal artery adhesions in 1 and adrenalectomy plus renal autotransplantation with bench repair in 1. Both lesions were diagnosed preoperatively in 9 cases and a hypovascular adrenal lesion was missed preoperatively in 1. A review of literature revealed a total of 87 cases of coexisting pheochromocytoma and renal artery lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

There are multiple mechanisms that can lead to renal artery stenosis and pheochromocytoma. A high index of suspicion is necessary to enable both entities to be diagnosed preoperatively and allow proper planning of surgical therapy. Incomplete diagnosis may lead to persistent hypertension postoperatively.