Multiple organ failure and coma as initial presentation of pheochromocytoma in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II A

The unusual case of a 65-year-old woman with intermittent hypotension, fever, pulmonary edema and coma as initial presentation of pheochromocytoma is reported. The patient developed respiratory, cardiac and renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and liver dysfunction. She, had to be defibrillated on multiple occasions, occurring in periods of severe hypertension. After successful surgical removal of a pheochromocytoma a thyroid medullary carcinoma was detected. Several members of the patients family had presented with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II).