[Pheochromocytoma with ectopic secretion of ACTH]

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor displaying a considerable degree of clinical polymorphism both with respect to its location and the secretion of different types of catecholamines and its capacity to synthesize several ectopic hormones. The present work reports on a case of pheochromocytoma with secretion of ACTH that exhibited several clinical and biological peculiarities. Firstly, the clinical picture of the patient was characterized by a predominance of manifestations of adrenal hyperfunction as compared with those of the original tumor. Secondly a striking finding was an important degree of neutrophilia without band forms and a marked hypokalemia produced by the joint secretion of catecholamines and steroid hormones, as demonstrated later. Finally, the images obtained with computerized tomography were very characteristic, such that together with the above data it was possible to establish a preoperative diagnosis.