Spontaneous ruptured pheochromocytoma: an unusual case report and literature review

Ruptured pheochromocytoma is a rare disease. Its mortality rate is up to 31%-50%. Proper management of ruptured pheochromocytoma remains unclear. A 44-year-old male patient visited our Emergency Department and presented with abrupt onset of left flank pain. His blood pressure was 190/140 mmHg with purse rate of 130 beats/min. CT scan showed 8.1 × 5.6-cm-sized heterogeneously mass with rupture on the left retroperitoneal space and active bleeding. His symptom of abdominal pain was aggravated. Follow-up laboratory analysis revealed elevated WBC count and decreased hemoglobin 2 hours after admission. Emergency laparotomy was performed. We resected the ruptured left retroperitoneal mass and hemostasis. Pathologic exams revealed adrenal pheochromocytoma with rupture. Although our patient was alive, according to literature review, mortality rate of emergency operation without medical management is higher than elective operation after blood pressure control with either medical or interventional methods such as transcatheter arterial embolization.