Pheochromocytoma Multi-Organ Crisis: Nonseptic Hyperthermia and Shock
Michael Y. Shapira, Elena Zuckerman, Taufic Zuebi, Oded Jurim
Divisions of Medicine and Surgery, Hadassah-University Hospital; Geriatrics Dept.; Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem; and Dept. of Medicine, Yoseftal Hospital, Eilat
Pheochromocytoma usually presents with nonspecific symptoms such as headache, palpitation, chest pain and hypertension. We present a 48-year-old woman hospitalized due to a pheochromocytoma multi-organ crisis (PMC). It consists of a tetrad of symptoms: multi-organ failure, hyperthermia, encephalopathy and unstable blood pressure. Distinguishing PMC from septic shock may be difficult, and requires needs a high clinical index of suspicion.