Diagnostic Enigma: A Case of Silent Pheochromocytoma in a Woman

Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumours that arise from neural crest cells of the adrenal medulla. They commonly secrete catecholamines and other biological peptides that account for, hypertension, palpitations, and episodic headaches associated with the condition. However, the symptoms and clinical presentations are highly variable due to variations in catecholamine biosynthesis and secretion because of differences in gene expression. A small proportion of tumours hardly synthesize or release catecholamines and may have no symptoms and are termed non-functional pheochromocytoma. The non-functional pheochromocytomas are usually identified as incidentalomas, and the biochemical workup is usually negative. Non-functioning pheochromocytomas pose a challenge even to an astute clinician. We report a woman who presented with clinically non-functioning pheochromocytoma.