A CASE OF PHEOCROMOCYTOMA ARISING FROM HETEROTOPIC  ADRENAL GLAND IN CHILDREN

S. Babuci; V. Petrovici; I. Negru; I. Ambros; A. Berbeca; T. Pasicovchi; M. Malțev

doi:10.5281/zenodo.11106983

Autori

S. Babuci Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
V. Petrovici Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
I. Negru Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
I. Ambros Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
A. Berbeca Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
T. Pasicovchi Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
M. Malțev Public Medical Sanitary Institution Mother and Child Institute, National Scientific-Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery ”Natalia Gheorghiu”, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11106983

Cuvinte cheie:

pheochromocytoma, heterotopy, hypertension, children

Rezumat

Introduction. Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumor that originates in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal sites, both derived from the embryonic neural crest. The term "pheochromocytoma" is reserved for tumors involving the adrenal glands, while for extra-adrenal tumors that come from the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia and have a noradrenergic phenotype, the term "paraganglioma" is used.

Case Report. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor in children. We present the case of a 9-year-old female child with heterotopic retroperitoneal localized pheochromocytoma, clinically manifesting hypertension, tachycardia and headache. The diagnosis was based on abdominal ultrasound, Computer tomography and contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging, confirmed by evaluation of free plasma catecholamine metabolites and testing of fractionated urinary metanephrines. This case is of interest due to an atypical position and vascularization of the pheochromocytoma, located retroperitoneally on the right, casuistically described in the literature, which created some diagnostic confusions.

Conclusion. The use of the transperitoneal approach, in this case, allowed an excellent exposure and radical removal of the tumor without injuring the kidney and ureter attached to the tumor.