REVERSIBLE LEFT VENTRICULAR WALL MOTION IMPAIRMENT CAUSED BY PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA---A CASE REPORT

Kanji Iga, M.D., Hiromitsu Gen, M.D., Go Tomonaga,M.D.,Tadashi Matsumura, M.D., Kenjiro Hori, M.D.,

Excessive catecholamine levels can cause myocardial damage in experimental animals. Similar observations have been made in autopsy cases of pheochromocytoma. However, whether catecholamine crisis is reversible or not remains uncertain. We report a case in which pheochromocytoma manifested as acute pulmonary edema during operation. Serial echocardiograms were revealed that the depression of left ventricular wall motion was reversed after tumor removal. The serum catecholamine level was extraordinarily high during the episode of acute pulmonary edema and it seems that catecholamines in high concentration can damage the myocardium directly.