Snapshot A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency room from her primary care physician’s office for high blood pressure unresponsive to therapy. She has a history of neurofibromatosis type 1, though without any neurological deficits. She has multiple café-au-lait spots on her body. She is found to be hypertensive to 154/121 mmHg. Her 24-hour urine metanephrines and VMA come back elevated. Her abdominal CT comes back with an adrenal mass. Introduction Nonmalignant tumor of adrenal medulla most common adrenal tumor in adults vs neuroblastoma, which is most common in children secretes catecholamines causing episodic hypertension Pathogenesis chromaffin cells from neural crest origin Epidemiology 40-50 year old Rule of 10’s 10% malignant 10% bilateral 10% extra-adrenal bladder and organ of Zuckerkandl (bifurcation of aorta) 10% calcify 10% kids Associated conditions Von Hippel-Lindau disease MEN 2A MEN 2B Neurofibromatosis type 1 Presentation Symptoms are episodic 5 P’s Pressure (↑ BP)Pain (headache) Perspiration Palpitations (tachycardia) Pallor mediated by tumor secretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine therapy-resistant hypertension Physical exam ↑ BP (diastolic) skin hyperpigmentation (café-au-lait spots) may suggest NF1 Evaluation Best initial test ↑ free metanephrine level in plasma Confirmation with 24-hour urine collection ↑ vanillyl mandelic acid (breakdown of norepinephrine and epinephrine) ↑ metanephrines (more sensitive than VMA) Histology chromaffin cells with enlarged dysmorphic nuclei Imaging adrenal mass seen on MRI or CT MIBG scanning nuclear isotope scan to detect extra-adrenal involvement Differential Diagnosis Functional adrenal tumors various different hormonal syndromes can result, such as Cushing syndrome secondary to unregulated cortisol secretion Conn syndrome secondary to unregulated aldosterone secretion male feminization secondary to unregulated estrogen secretion female virilization secondary to unregulated androgen secretion e.g., androstenedione, DHEA, and testosterone levels Hyperthyroidism Carcinoid tumors Panic disorder Therapy resistant hypertension from obstructive sleep apnea Treatment In this sequence of events α-antagonist phenoxybenzamine to prevent unopposed α-action if β receptors are blocked β-blocker tumor resection Prognosis, Prevention, and Complications Prognosis very good with resection Complications metastases bones, lungs, and liver transformation to malignant tumor (10%) hypertensive crisis
QUESTIONS 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Previous Next Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (M2.ON.16.4694) A 39-year-old woman, with a history of thyroidectomy and primary hyperparathyroidism presents for surgical evaluation for a right adrenal mass. Preoperatively, which of the following medications should she receive to prevent a hypertensive emergency intraoperatively? QID: 107708 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Atenolol 50% (2/4) 2 Labetolol 25% (1/4) 3 Lisinopril 0% (0/4) 4 Nifedipine 0% (0/4) 5 Phenoxybenzamine 25% (1/4) M 7 Question Complexity D Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 5 Review Tested Concept (M2.ON.15.45) A 43-year-old male with a history of thyroid cancer status post total thyroidectomy presents to his primary care physician after repeated bouts of headaches. His headaches are preceded by periods of anxiety, palpitations, and sweating. The patient says he is unable to pinpoint any precipitating factors and instead says the events occur without warning. Of note, the patient's father and uncle also have a history of thyroid cancer. On exam his vitals are: T 36.8 HR 87, BP 135/93, RR 14, and O2 Sat 100% on room air. The patient's TSH is within normal limits, and he reports taking his levothyroxine as prescribed. What is the next best step in diagnosing this patient's chief complaint? QID: 104370 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Abdominal CT scan with and without IV contrast 21% (4/19) 2 24-hour urine free cortisol 0% (0/19) 3 High dose dexamethasone suppression test 0% (0/19) 4 Plasma fractionated metanephrines 63% (12/19) 5 Plasma aldosterone/renin ratio 5% (1/19) M 6 Question Complexity E Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK