Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a generally benign neoplasm derived from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It is characterized by the production of large amounts of catecholamines and also by the capacity to secrete bioactive peptides such as cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1), interle...

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Main Authors: Angélica María González-Clavijo, Juan David Muñoz-Loaiza, Jennifer Daniela Guzmán-Rojas, Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez, Laura Natalia Bermúdez-Silva, Luis Felipe Fierro-Maya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2020-07-01
Series:Case Reports
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Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/84240
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author Angélica María González-Clavijo
Juan David Muñoz-Loaiza
Jennifer Daniela Guzmán-Rojas
Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez
Laura Natalia Bermúdez-Silva
Luis Felipe Fierro-Maya
author_facet Angélica María González-Clavijo
Juan David Muñoz-Loaiza
Jennifer Daniela Guzmán-Rojas
Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez
Laura Natalia Bermúdez-Silva
Luis Felipe Fierro-Maya
author_sort Angélica María González-Clavijo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a generally benign neoplasm derived from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It is characterized by the production of large amounts of catecholamines and also by the capacity to secrete bioactive peptides such as cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF alpha. Case presentation: 24-year-old man, who consulted for fever, myalgia, and choluria. His laboratory tests were compatible with a systemic inflammatory response without infectious or autoimmune causes. However, a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDGPET) revealed a left adrenal mass, without extra-adrenal lesions. On admission, increased levels of differentiated urine methanephrines, elevated baseline cortisol, non-suppressed adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and positive low dose dexamethasone suppression test for cortisol were found. With suspicion of catecholamine and ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma, a tumor resection was performed, which conspicuously resolved all alterations of the inflammatory response. The histologic findings confirmed a pheochromocytoma, but the immunostaining for ACTH was negative. A literature review and the comparison of the findings with other reported cases allowed inferring that this was a case of interleukin-producing pheochromocytoma. Conclusion: Pheochromocytoma may be a cause of febrile syndrome, with IL-6 being the main mediator, which explains the manifestationsof systemic inflammation and ACTH-mediated hypercortisolism.
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spelling doaj-art-39ba62e2f0ee411296c2267cdc1e4f522024-11-26T23:59:01ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaCase Reports2462-85222020-07-016210.15446/cr.v6n2.84240Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case reportAngélica María González-Clavijo0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4745-0474Juan David Muñoz-Loaiza1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1263-2147Jennifer Daniela Guzmán-Rojas2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-4944Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2795-8847Laura Natalia Bermúdez-Silva4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1868-7766Luis Felipe Fierro-Maya5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1661-6574Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - ColombiaInstituto Nacional de Cancerología - Department of Endocrinology - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a generally benign neoplasm derived from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It is characterized by the production of large amounts of catecholamines and also by the capacity to secrete bioactive peptides such as cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF alpha. Case presentation: 24-year-old man, who consulted for fever, myalgia, and choluria. His laboratory tests were compatible with a systemic inflammatory response without infectious or autoimmune causes. However, a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDGPET) revealed a left adrenal mass, without extra-adrenal lesions. On admission, increased levels of differentiated urine methanephrines, elevated baseline cortisol, non-suppressed adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and positive low dose dexamethasone suppression test for cortisol were found. With suspicion of catecholamine and ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma, a tumor resection was performed, which conspicuously resolved all alterations of the inflammatory response. The histologic findings confirmed a pheochromocytoma, but the immunostaining for ACTH was negative. A literature review and the comparison of the findings with other reported cases allowed inferring that this was a case of interleukin-producing pheochromocytoma. Conclusion: Pheochromocytoma may be a cause of febrile syndrome, with IL-6 being the main mediator, which explains the manifestationsof systemic inflammation and ACTH-mediated hypercortisolism. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/84240PheochromocytomaFever of Unknown OriginInterleukin-6
spellingShingle Angélica María González-Clavijo
Juan David Muñoz-Loaiza
Jennifer Daniela Guzmán-Rojas
Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez
Laura Natalia Bermúdez-Silva
Luis Felipe Fierro-Maya
Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
Case Reports
Pheochromocytoma
Fever of Unknown Origin
Interleukin-6
title Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
title_full Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
title_fullStr Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
title_full_unstemmed Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
title_short Pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin, a case report
title_sort pheochromocytoma presenting as fever of unknown origin a case report
topic Pheochromocytoma
Fever of Unknown Origin
Interleukin-6
url https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/84240
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AT johinerjahirvanegasantolinez pheochromocytomapresentingasfeverofunknownoriginacasereport
AT lauranataliabermudezsilva pheochromocytomapresentingasfeverofunknownoriginacasereport
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