Bilateral Pheochromocytoma in a Child Revealing Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy admitted with malignant hypertension, headaches, vomiting, and generalized seizures. Clinical, biochemical, and imaging evaluations revealed bilateral adrenal masses with elevated plasma metanephrines, consistent with bilateral pheochromocytoma. After preoperative preparation with an alpha-blocker, the patient underwent right adrenalectomy, and histopathological analysis confirmed a low-aggressive pheochromocytoma. Postoperatively, his blood pressure normalized, catecholamine levels returned to normal, and cardiac function improved. Genetic testing identified a pathogenic variant in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, confirming the diagnosis of VHL disease. A 14-month follow-up showed clinical stability, no recurrence, and no additional tumors during systematic screening. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and genetic screening in pediatric pheochromocytoma, especially in bilateral cases, to guide treatment and long-term surveillance.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-05-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84781
Primary Topic
Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Bilateral Pheochromocytoma in a Child Revealing Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Nadia Echcharii, Nabila Chekhlabi, Amal Rami, Nezha Dini et al.
Cureus
Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors
article

Bilateral Pheochromocytoma in a Child Revealing Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Nadia Echcharii, Nabila Chekhlabi, Amal Rami, Nezha Dini, Amal Miqdadi
article en

Abstract

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy admitted with malignant hypertension, headaches, vomiting, and generalized seizures. Clinical, biochemical, and imaging evaluations revealed bilateral adrenal masses with elevated plasma metanephrines, consistent with bilateral pheochromocytoma. After preoperative preparation with an alpha-blocker, the patient underwent right adrenalectomy, and histopathological analysis confirmed a low-aggressive pheochromocytoma. Postoperatively, his blood pressure normalized, catecholamine levels returned to normal, and cardiac function improved. Genetic testing identified a pathogenic variant in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, confirming the diagnosis of VHL disease. A 14-month follow-up showed clinical stability, no recurrence, and no additional tumors during systematic screening. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and genetic screening in pediatric pheochromocytoma, especially in bilateral cases, to guide treatment and long-term surveillance.

CureusVol. 17(5)
University of Health Science (KH), University of Health Sciences (SO), International University (KH)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Bilateral Pheochromocytoma in a Child Revealing Von Hippel-Lindau Disease — Nadia Echcharii, Nabila Chekhlabi, et al. · Cureus (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS