[Adrenal pheochromocytoma. Report of six cases]

The authors report 6 cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma seen over a period of 3 years (1993-1995). All patients were females, aged between 17 and 43 years with a mean of 35 years. Clinical manifestations consisted of either sustained hypertension, with episodes of hypersudation and palpitations, or paroxysmal hypertension which was revealed during surgery ; the disease was sometimes discovered incidentally. C.T and ultrasound showed in every cases adrenal mass as 3 to 6 cm usually located on the left side (5 cases). All patients were operated via lumbotomy and adrenalectomy was performed. In one case an associated thrombus within the vena cava was removed. Postoperative follow-up was uneventful except for one patient who developed a recurrent episode of hypertension.