Korean Journal of Nephrology  1998;17(6):963-967

A Case of Renal Artery Stenosis Caused by Extraadrenal Pheochromocytoma.

Hyun Chul KIM ; Won KIM ; Chang Seop LEE ; Sung Kwang PARK ; Sung Kyew KANG ; Hyung Jin KIM ; Young Gon KIM

Keywords

Extraadrenal pheochromocytoma; Renal artery stenosis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

The coexistence of extraadrenal pheochromocytoma and renal artery stenosis is extremely rare. The mechanisms of renal artery stenosis with pheochromocytoma include direct compression of the tumor mass on the renal artery and catecholamine-induced vasospasm, fibromuscular hyperplasia, and fibrous adhesion. We report a rare case of renal artery stenosis caused by extraadrenal pheochromocytoma in a 29- year-old female. She was admitted to the hospital because of palpitation and headache. She had been treated for hypertension for 2 years. On admission, her plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were elevated as were her plasma renin activity, urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and metanephrine levels. Through the use of abdominal computed tomography, 131I-MIBG scan, and renal arteriography, a mass was found in the hilus of the left kidney which affected left renal artery stenosis. Surgical removal of the mass and left kidney restored the catecholamine excretion, plasma renin activity, and blood pressure to normal. Electronmicroscopic examination of the mass confirmed the pheochromocytoma.