Catecholamine and Metanephrine Levels in Breast Milk Before and After Paraganglioma Resection

Catecholamine and metanephrine transfer into breast milk in the setting of secreting paraganglioma or pheochromocytoma has not been previously described. We present an investigation in which we measured catecholamine and metanephrine levels in the breast milk in a single patient undergoing resection of a paraganglioma at 5 weeks postpartum. As expected, levels were elevated preoperatively and decreased rapidly after resection. This information may be clinically relevant for patient management when pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma resection is delayed with respect to the delivery of the infant or in the postoperative monitoring of the patient's status.