A case report of rare ectopic pheochromocytoma adjacent to pancreas

RATIONALE: Ectopic pheochromocytoma is a special type of pheochromocytoma which occurs outside the adrenal gland. The most common symptoms of ectopic pheochromocytoma are palpitations, headaches, profuse sweating, and hypertension. In clinical practice, diagnosis of ectopic pheochromocytoma remains difficult. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a 43-year-old female who was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of upper abdominal discomfort for 1 week. Computed tomography demonstrated a neoplasm in the head of pancreas. The patient also had history of hypertension and type-2 diabetes. DIAGNOSIS: According to the postoperative pathological examination, the lesion was mainly composed of chromaffin cells. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor expressed chromogranin A, NSE, and synaptophysin. Based on these findings, this mass was diagnosed as benign ectopic pheochromocytoma (paraganglioma). INTERVENTIONS: Surgical resection operation was carried out and the patient's blood pressure was monitored continuously. Vasopressor or anti-hypertensive drugs were used according to circumstances. OUTCOMES: The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital with normal blood pressure. LESSONS: This report reminds us to pay close attention to the likelihood of ectopic pheochromocytoma and other low-incidence diseases. Physicians and imaging clinicians should explore all clinical possibilities to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of ectopic pheochromocytoma and take effective treatment measures to maximize patient benefits.