Pheochromocytoma Presenting as a Rare and Reversible Cause of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Young Adolescent

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type of cardiomyopathy in children and adolescents. Most of the cases are idiopathic, with very poor outcome. Identifying a correctable etiology is very crucial as appropriate management could reverse the disease process with complete recovery. Pheochromocytoma and Paragangliomas are catecholamine secreting tumours derived from sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Clinical presentation is highly hetrerogenous, from asymptomatic with incidental finding on imaging or with significant cardiovascular and/or neurological complications. Acute or chronic catecholamine exposure can lead to certain myocardial alterations causing various forms of cardiomyopathy. Most of the such patients are hypertensive. An ultrasound abdomen is a simple, non invasive and easily available investigation which can give a clue to the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Early diagnosis and surgical resection of pheochromocytoma is important and can reverse the cardiomyopathy as in our case.