Pheochromocytoma in a 49-year-old woman presenting with acute myocardial infarction:A case report

BACKGROUND Pheochromocytoma is a rare endocrine tumor arising from chromaffin cells and having extensive and profound effects on the cardiovascular system by continuously or intermittently releasing catecholamines.The clinical manifestations of pheochromocytoma are diverse,and the typical triad,including episodic headache,palpitations,and sweating,only occurs in 24%of pheochromocytoma patients,which often misleads clinicians into making an incorrect diagnosis.We herein report the case of a patient with intermittent chest pain and elevated myocardial enzymes for 2 years who was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma.CASE SUMMARY A 49-year-old woman presented with intermittent chest pain for 2 years.Two years ago,the patient experienced chest pain and was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction,with 25%stenosis in the left circumflex.The patient still had intermittent chest pain after discharge.Two hours before admission to our hospital,the patient experienced chest pain with nausea and vomiting,lasting for 20 min.Troponin I and urinary norepinephrine and catecholamine levels were elevated.An electrocardiogram indicated QT prolongation and ST-segment depression in leads II,III,aVF,and V3-V6.A coronary computed tomography angiogram revealed no evidence of coronary artery disease.Echocardiography showed left ventricular enlargement and a decreased posterior inferior wall motion amplitude.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated an inhomogeneous right adrenal mass.The patient successfully underwent laparoscopic right adrenalectomy,and histopathology confirmed adrenal pheochromocytoma.During the first-year follow-up visits,the patient was asymptomatic.The abnormal changes on echocardiography and electro-cardiogram disappeared.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of pheochromocytoma.A timely and accurate diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is essential for alleviating serious cardiac complications.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy characterized by recurrent syncope during exercise:A case report

BACKGROUND Arrhythmogenic right ventricular(RV)cardiomyopathy is a rare and currently underrecognized cardiomyopathy characterized by the replacement of RV myocardium by fibrofatty tissue.It may be asymptomatic or symptomatic(palpitations or syncope)and may induce sudden cardiac death,especially during exercise.To prevent adverse events such as sudden cardiac death and heart failure,early diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy(ARVC)are crucial.We report a patient with ARVC characterized by recurrent syncope during exercise who was successfully treated with combined endocardial and epicardial catheter ablation.CASE SUMMARY A 43-year-old man was referred for an episode of syncope during exercise.Previously,the patient experienced two episodes of syncope without a firm etiological diagnosis.An electrocardiogram obtained at admission indicated ventricular tachycardia originating from the inferior wall of the right ventricle.The ventricular tachycardia was terminated with intravenous propafenone.A repeat electrocardiogram showed a regular sinus rhythm with negative T waves and a delayed S-wave upstroke from leads V1 to V4.Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed RV free wall thinning,regional RV akinesia,RV dilatation and fibrofatty infiltration(RV ejection fraction of 38%).An electrophysiological study showed multiple inducible ventricular tachycardia as of a focal mechanism from the right ventricle.Endocardial and epicardial voltage mapping demonstrated scar tissue in the anterior wall,free wall and posterior wall of the right ventricle.Late potentials were also recorded.The patient was diagnosed with ARVC and treated with combined endocardial and epicardial catheter ablation with a very satisfactory follow-up result.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of ARVC,and further workup,including imaging with multiple modalities,should be pursued.The combination of epicardial and endocardial catheter ablation can lead to a good outcome.