Abstract

Paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas are unusual tumors with a distinct clinical and biochemical profile. The hallmark of these tumors, which are derived from chromaffin cells, is secretion of catecholamines causing hypertension and other symptoms of catecholamine excess. We report a tumor which presented in lung parenchyma, appearing as a low grade carcinoid tumor, but which exhibited the clinical profile of a pheochromocytoma. The patient did well with surgical treatment only and is alive today ten years after presentation, free of disease.

Keywords: Pheochromocytomas, carcinoid tumor, paraganglioma, chromaffin