Systematic treatment based on evidence for malignant pheochromocytoma: one case report and Literature review

A 51-years-old male with malignant pheochromocytoma underwent resection of the right adrenal tumor in May 2007. The pathological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma, suspected of being malignant tendency, which contained neuroblastoma cells. Recurrence and metastasis was observed 4 years after the operation. During the treatment, 131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 131 I-MIBG) treatment, palliative cytoreductive surgery, somatostatin treatment, TKI (sunitinib) targeted therapy, combined chemotherapy was administered with the overall survival time reaching 87 months. Like literature reports, surgery is the main treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma, 131 I-MIBG treatment is an effective method, molecular targeted therapy is the most promising therapy. Even so, treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma is still lack of unified standard, successful treatment requires large sample of clinical observation and a multidisciplinary team.