Pheochromocytoma presenting as takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy following delivery

Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma during pregnancy can be difficult, and the tumor carries an unfavorable prognosis if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

To present a case of Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning due to pheochromocytoma following delivery.

A few hours after Caesarean section, a 32-year-old Caucasian female presented with pulmonary edema followed by cardiac arrest with echocardiographic and ventriculographic evidence of reversible acute myocardial failure characteristic of Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy. A previously unrecognized adrenal pheochromocytoma was found during her clinical work-up. Left ventricle (LV) function normalized after surgical removal of the tumor, which was carried out after implementing an alpha-adrenoreceptor blockade. Hemorrhagic necrosis of the pheochromocytoma was seen on histopathologic analysis; this may have triggered the sequence of events leading to the development of Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy and hemodynamic collapse.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy related to pheochromocytoma following delivery. This emphasizes the increased cardiovascular risk if pheochromocytoma is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, especially during pregnancy.