MR demonstration of a cystic pheochromocytoma

Cystic pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal gland that can pose a diagnostic challenge. We report a case of a 14-year-old boy who had an adrenal lesion that appeared cystic by both sonography and CT, but that demonstrated hemorrhage into the lesion at MR imaging, and proved to be a cystic pheochromocytoma. We emphasize the importance of considering the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma when faced with a cystic lesion of the adrenal gland.