[A case of malignant pheochromocytoma treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine (CVD). A review of the Japanese literature of malignant pheochromocytoma treated with a combination of CVD]

Abstract

A 49-year-old woman had a right adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma in April 1989. In May 1990 she underwent an operation to remove paraaortic lymph nodes, and the lymph nodes showed pheochromocytoma. Twenty-two months after the first operation, metastases to the left cervical nodes, lung, and liver occurred. Her blood pressure was 172/104 mmHg; fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 342 mg/dl; urinary noradrenaline (NA), more than 2000 micrograms/day; and plasma NA, 17.28 ng/ml. Treatment with the CVD regimen (cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m2 on day 1; vincristine, 1.4 mg/m2 on day 1; dacarbazine, 600 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2, every 21 days) was begun on February 14, 1991. After 3 cycles of the CVD regimen her blood pressure was 140/82 mmHg; FPG, 157 mg/dl; urinary NA, 917 micrograms/day 1; and plasma NA, 4.54 ng/ml. The size of the metastatic lesions in the liver had decreased. Treatment with the CVD regimen was continued until May 1992. After that she did not go to the hospital for about 2 months. Metastatic lesions progressed gradually and treatment with the CVD regimen was repeated again. She was admitted to the hospital on February 17, 1993 because of appetite loss and nausea. Her blood pressure was 188/94 mmHg; FPG, 197 mg/dl; HbA1c, 9.5%; urinary NA, 18265.3 micrograms/day; and plasma NA, 47.20 ng/ml. She was treated with the CVD regimen in 2 repeated cycles (28th cycle of treatment with the CVD regimen) but there was no effect. She died following hemoptysis on March 15, 1993.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)