Pheochromocytoma during pregnancy is potentially disastrous to the mother and fetus. Its ambiguous presentation is often mistaken for pre-eclampsia, although it may imitate other problems during pregnancy. Early diagnosis and timely, appropriate management reduces possible maternal and fetal complications. We identified a case of pheochromocytoma during pregnancy; the condition was initially diagnosed as pre-eclampsia complicated with gestational diabetes. Surgical intervention via left adrenalectomy was successfully performed in the second trimester. After surgery, all of the patient’s medical problems nearly subsided and she did not require further treatment. However, her fetus displayed restricted intrauterine growth, and the patient eventually had premature delivery via a caesarean section. A multidisciplinary team to identify and treat pheochromocytoma is mandatory to ensure optimal conditions for tumour removal and to anticipate any possible catastrophic events.

Worldwide maternal mortality rate had reduced tremendously including Malaysia. At the 2000 Millenium Summit, eight Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) were established with target for the year 2015. Three years remained until the dateline to achieve MDG5, which comprised of two targets and one being reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75%. This review compared the trend of maternal mortality and its causes in our centre to the national data. The national data had shown a reduction from 44 to 27.6 in 100 000 live births in1991 and 2008 respectively. The subsequent rate had stabilized for the past seven years. In contrast the UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC) data in the past 15 years had not been stable. The target of MDG5 seemed to be achievable by our country but may require longer time as we have yet to find ways to overcome medical care inadequacy in remote areas.