A Diagnostic Dilemma in Diagnosing and Managing an Incidental Phaeochromocytoma

Introduction

Phaeochromocytomas are chromaffin cell tumours which are well recognised to present with hypertension and symptoms of catecholamine excess. These tumours, although rare, are important not to be missed, as left untreated they may result in devastating consequence. The first step in investigating phaeochromocytomas is to prove catecholamines excess biochemically. We report a patient with phaeochromocytoma in which repeated urine and plasma samples failed to detect excess catecholamines levels.

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