Pheochromocytoma and Von Hippel-Lindau in pregnancy. 2010

Nonna Kolomeyevskaya, and Maria Blazo, and Ignatia Van den Veyver, and Stacy Strehlow, and Kjersti M Aagaard-Tillery
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

Pheochromocytoma is an infrequent but well-acknowledged primary cause of malignant hypertension in pregnancy. Although the majority of pheochromocytomas are sporadic, those that present as bilateral or multifocal tumors may be a manifestation of a rare cancer susceptibility syndrome, such as Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). Gravidae with unrecognized pheochromocytoma are at risk for recurrent paroxysmal hypertensive crises with ensuant maternal and fetal risks. To further illustrate the challenges of management of pheochromocytoma and VHL in pregnancy, we present two illustrative cases. In the first, a multigravida presented with an intrauterine fetal demise and malignant hypertension and a concurrent diagnosis of bilateral pheochromocytomas. A missense mutation in exon 3 of the VHL gene was identified, confirming the diagnosis of VHL type 2C. In the second case, a multigravida with a prior diagnosis of VHL syndrome but sporadic follow-up underwent renal and adrenal imaging surveillance as part of her prenatal care. Although she was normotensive and clinically asymptomatic, such imaging enabled the detection of bilateral pheochromocytomas. In summary, in this report we discuss our management in gravidae with pheochromocytoma and VHL, emphasizing current recommendations pertaining to obstetric management, genetic testing, and long-term follow-up.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010673 Pheochromocytoma A usually benign, well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the ADRENAL MEDULLA or sympathetic paraganglia. The cardinal symptom, reflecting the increased secretion of EPINEPHRINE and NOREPINEPHRINE, is HYPERTENSION, which may be persistent or intermittent. During severe attacks, there may be HEADACHE; SWEATING, palpitation, apprehension, TREMOR; PALLOR or FLUSHING of the face, NAUSEA and VOMITING, pain in the CHEST and ABDOMEN, and paresthesias of the extremities. The incidence of malignancy is as low as 5% but the pathologic distinction between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas is not clear. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1298) Pheochromocytoma, Extra-Adrenal,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytoma,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytoma, Extra Adrenal,Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytomas, Extra-Adrenal
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011252 Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic The co-occurrence of pregnancy and NEOPLASMS. The neoplastic disease may precede or follow FERTILIZATION. Complications, Neoplastic Pregnancy,Neoplastic Pregnancy Complications,Pregnancy, Neoplastic Complications,Complication, Neoplastic Pregnancy,Neoplastic Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancies, Neoplastic Complications,Pregnancy Complication, Neoplastic
D011296 Prenatal Diagnosis Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth. Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D005260 Female Females
D006623 von Hippel-Lindau Disease An autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in a tumor suppressor gene. This syndrome is characterized by abnormal growth of small blood vessels leading to a host of neoplasms. They include HEMANGIOBLASTOMA in the RETINA; CEREBELLUM; and SPINAL CORD; PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA; pancreatic tumors; and renal cell carcinoma (see CARCINOMA, RENAL CELL). Common clinical signs include HYPERTENSION and neurological dysfunctions. Cerebelloretinal Angiomatosis, Familial,Lindau Disease,Angiomatosis Retinae,Familial Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatosis,Hippel-Lindau Disease,Lindau's Disease,VHL Syndrome,von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome,Angiomatoses, Familial Cerebello-Retinal,Angiomatoses, Familial Cerebelloretinal,Angiomatosis, Familial Cerebello-Retinal,Angiomatosis, Familial Cerebelloretinal,Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatoses, Familial,Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatosis, Familial,Cerebelloretinal Angiomatoses, Familial,Familial Cerebello Retinal Angiomatosis,Familial Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatoses,Familial Cerebelloretinal Angiomatoses,Familial Cerebelloretinal Angiomatosis,Hippel Lindau Disease,Lindau's Diseases,Lindaus Disease,VHL Syndromes,von Hippel Lindau Disease,von Hippel Lindau Syndrome
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000310 Adrenal Gland Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the ADRENAL GLANDS. Adrenal Cancer,Adrenal Gland Cancer,Adrenal Neoplasm,Cancer of the Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal Gland,Adrenal Cancers,Adrenal Gland Cancers,Adrenal Gland Neoplasm,Adrenal Neoplasms,Cancer, Adrenal,Cancer, Adrenal Gland,Cancers, Adrenal,Cancers, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasm, Adrenal,Neoplasm, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor

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