[Late recurrence in pheochromocytoma: need for a long term follow up]

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine secreting tumor which has been traditionally considered as a potentially curable cause of hypertension. However, the existence of malignant pheochromocytomas as well as the problem which the recurrence of benign pheochromocytomas present, make the eradication of this tumor more complicated. It is note worthy the difficulty in localizing recurrent pheochromocytomas as well as the prognostic interest that presents the possibility of differentiating between recurrence and metastasis. We refer the case of a female patient suffering benign adrenal pheochromocytoma, who, 10 years it was surgically removed, presented a relapse of symptoms, and was diagnosed of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma, in Zuckerkandl organ. The importance of performing a long term post-surgical follow-up in these patients is stressed.