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Case Reports
. 2017 Aug 7:2017:bcr2016217628.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-217628.

Hypertensive emergency masquerading as phaeochromocytoma: a report of two cases

Raphael Hulkower  1 , Sriram Gubbi  1 , Mimoza Meholli  1 , Ulrich Schubart  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Hypertensive emergency masquerading as phaeochromocytoma: a report of two cases

Raphael Hulkower et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

We report two cases of patients who were hospitalised for hypertensive emergency. In both cases, laboratory testing during admission revealed elevated normetanephrines in the range of 4-5 times the upper limit of normal using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Imaging studies did not localise any phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL). Repeat biochemical testing after discharge was within normal limits in both cases. These observations suggest that hypertensive emergency should be recognised as a potential cause of 'false-positive' laboratory findings in the diagnostic assessment for PPGL.

Keywords: adrenal disorders; hypertension.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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