Traumatic Adrenal Hemorrhage Masking as a Pseudotumor

Several case reports have been filed regarding the latent presentation of hemorrhagic pheochromocytomas in the trauma setting; however, few patients have been found to exhibit these symptoms in the absence of a tumor. In this report, we discuss a patient who sustained blunt abdominal trauma leading to the development of an adrenal hemorrhage and his unexpected sequelae of symptoms. Discovery of the source of the patient's symptoms was delayed secondary to multiple comorbidities in the critical care setting and work-up for other sources such as infection and agitation. Hypertensive urgency was confirmed to be of adrenal etiology with measurement of persistently elevated plasma and urine metanephrines during the hospital course. The patients hypertensive urgency was successfully managed with the use of antisympathomimetics including an esmolol drip, clonidine, and eventually tapered dose of metoprolol. Symptoms improved over time, and repeat CT imaging weeks later showed resolution of the hematoma. Review of literature reveals only one other case of adrenal hemorrhage after blunt force trauma resulting in hemorrhagic psuedotumor. To our knowledge, this is the second such case ever presented. This case is discussed along with the presentation, diagnostic work-up, and treatment of a critically ill patient with an adrenal hemorrhage masked as a pseudotumor.