[A hypertensive crisis during surgery in a patient with neuroblastoma]

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour in infancy and childhood. The tumour usually produces large amounts of catecholamines. Few patients with neuroblastoma, however, were reported to have become hypertensive because of catecholamine metabolism within the tumour itself. This is one of the most important differences compared with pheochromocytomas. We experienced a hypertensive crisis accompanied by tachycardia and an increase in the plasma catecholamine concentration during surgery in a patient with neuroblastoma. The plasma catecholamine level was comparable to that of pheochromocytoma. Phentolamine and propranolol were effective to control the hypertension and tachycardia.