Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla, with an incidence of less than 1 per 100,000 person-years. These tumors are characterized by excess catecholamine secretion and classically present with the triad of headaches, palpitations, and sweating episodes. However, the cl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Endocrinology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3792691 |
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| author | Uzma Mohammad Siddiqui Stephany Matta Mireya A. Wessolossky Richard Haas |
| author_facet | Uzma Mohammad Siddiqui Stephany Matta Mireya A. Wessolossky Richard Haas |
| author_sort | Uzma Mohammad Siddiqui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla, with an incidence of less than 1 per 100,000 person-years. These tumors are characterized by excess catecholamine secretion and classically present with the triad of headaches, palpitations, and sweating episodes. However, the clinical presentation can be quite variable. Herein, we present a patient who presented with persistent fevers. An adrenal mass was incidentally discovered during the extensive investigation for the fever of unknown origin. Consequently, blood and urine tests were done and found to be consistent with a pheochromocytoma. The resection of this pheochromocytoma resulted in resolution of fevers. It is hypothesized that fevers in patients with pheochromocytomas occur due to the excess catecholamine or possibly due to interleukins. This clinical presentation serves as a learning point that adrenal incidentalomas in the setting of fever of unknown origin should not be ignored. It also reminds clinicians that pheochromocytomas which present with fevers may have tumor necrosis and many such patients are at risk for multisystem crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eff2fc2b05794c49bc8dc43cd0dfd7aa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2090-6501 2090-651X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eff2fc2b05794c49bc8dc43cd0dfd7aa2025-08-20T03:21:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Endocrinology2090-65012090-651X2018-01-01201810.1155/2018/37926913792691Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureUzma Mohammad Siddiqui0Stephany Matta1Mireya A. Wessolossky2Richard Haas3Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USADepartment of Infectious Disease, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USADepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USAPheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla, with an incidence of less than 1 per 100,000 person-years. These tumors are characterized by excess catecholamine secretion and classically present with the triad of headaches, palpitations, and sweating episodes. However, the clinical presentation can be quite variable. Herein, we present a patient who presented with persistent fevers. An adrenal mass was incidentally discovered during the extensive investigation for the fever of unknown origin. Consequently, blood and urine tests were done and found to be consistent with a pheochromocytoma. The resection of this pheochromocytoma resulted in resolution of fevers. It is hypothesized that fevers in patients with pheochromocytomas occur due to the excess catecholamine or possibly due to interleukins. This clinical presentation serves as a learning point that adrenal incidentalomas in the setting of fever of unknown origin should not be ignored. It also reminds clinicians that pheochromocytomas which present with fevers may have tumor necrosis and many such patients are at risk for multisystem crises.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3792691 |
| spellingShingle | Uzma Mohammad Siddiqui Stephany Matta Mireya A. Wessolossky Richard Haas Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature Case Reports in Endocrinology |
| title | Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | fever of unknown origin could it be a pheochromocytoma a case report and review of the literature |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3792691 |
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