Pheochromocytoma-induced acute pulmonary edema and reversible catecholamine cardiomyopathy mimicking acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Acute noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy as the first presentations of pheochromocytoma are uncommon events, but usually rapidly fatal. A 36-year-old man presented acute pulmonary edema in a setting of hypertensive emergency after arthroscopy, later developing catecholamine-induced cardiotoxicity mimicking an acute myocardial infarction, with elevation of cardiac damage markers, normal coronary arteries, and with full recovery from electrical abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right adrenal mass. Elevated levels of catecholamines and metanephrines, and a positive 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scan confirmed a pheochromocytoma. Once the patient had been hemodynamically stabilized, he was successfully operated.