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Pheochromocytoma presenting as ischaemic stroke in a child

28-12-2008,
Agnieszka Kwiecień, MD, specialist in family medicine

Adrenal pheochromocytoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained neurological incidents.

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Pheochromocytoma is a rare condition in children. It mainly manifests as hypertension and paroxysmal facial flushing. Sometimes the symptoms are atypical and result from organ complications of hypertension. An example is the cited case report of a 6-year-old boy who suddenly developed a cerebral ischaemic stroke. The cause was acute circulatory failure due to hypertensive throwing in the course of an adrenal pheochromocytoma. After surgical treatment of the adrenal tumour, the hypertensive symptoms resolved. Adrenal pheochromocytoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained neurological incidents.