[Arterial hypertension from secretion of catecholamines in an infant with a ganglioneuroblastoma].

The case of a 16 month old infant presenting with an abdominal tumour and systemic hypertension is reported. The profile of urinary plasma and tumour catecholamine levels corresponded with that of a pheochromocitoma. The combination of alphablockers and betablockers was the only effective treatment of the peaks of preoperative hypetension. The tumour was completely excised and was found to be a ganglioneuroblastoma. No recurrence has been observed after 3 years post-operative follow-up. The incidence and mechanisms of hypertension in neuroblastoma are reviewed. Only these histological forms of ganglioblastoma have the enzymatic set up for the synthesis and release of pressor amines.