[Uncommon calcification of a pheochromocytoma: a case report]

A 62-year-old man with a 2-year history of hypertension was referred for evaluation of severe back pain, but his blood pressure was normal during his hospital stay. Plain radiography and excretory urography demonstrated central and eggshell-like calcification in the left suprarenal area. Computed tomographic scan confirmed similar shapes for the left adrenal calcifications. Laboratory examination revealed that the urinary normetanephrine was elevated. Left adrenal venography showed that the mass was in the middle to lower portion of the left adrenal gland. The most likely diagnosis was, calcified pheochromocytoma. The left adrenal tumor was removed surgically through a thoracolumbar incision on September 19, 1985. The blood pressure rose to 186/102 mmHg at the time of tumor manipulation. The tumor was a markedly hard mass, which was 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.0 cm and weighed 20 g. The histopathologic diagnosis was calcified pheochromocytoma. The patient remained symptomless after the operation.