Pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland selectively secreting dopamine - a case report

Pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland secreting catecholamines is a relatively rare endocrinological cause of secondary arterial hypertension, usually developing in people aged between 40 and 50, more often in women than in men. Each accidentally diagnosed lesion in adrenal glands is an incidentaloma. Incidentalomas are most commonly benign tumours: adenomas, adipomas and angiomas; less often they are of a malignant or metastatic character. Establishing the character of the lesion and its hormonal activity is of crucial diagnostic significance. Diagnostics of pheochromocytoma covers marking the urine output of catecholamines and their metabolites, as well as marking serum amine concentration. Possible treatment of hormonally active lesions includes their surgical removal. This thesis presents the case of a young female suffering from arterial hypertension for several years, including organ complications, who was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma selectively secreting dopamine. (Endokrynol Pol 2012; 63 (5): 391-395)