Pheochromocytoma and Renal Artery Stenosis

ARTERIAL hypertension due to pheochromocytoma is dramatically relieved in most patients by complete excision of the tumor. Harrison and associates1have reported a patient in whom renal ischemia developed or persisted after excision of three pheochromocytomas requiring nephrectomy for relief of hypertension. Renal ischemia secondary to renal artery stenosis is a well-recognized cause of hypertension2and can be cured by operation3,4in the majority of patients. Renal artery stenosis and pheochromocytoma occurring simultaneously have been reported by Rosenheim et al.5Two patients with unilateral renal ischemia due to compression of the renal artery by pheochromocytomas were treated by excision of the tumor and nephrectomy. The purpose of this report is to present the first documented case of renal artery stenosis and pheochromocytoma successfully treated by operation with salvage of the kidney and to discuss the possible relationship between the two lesions. Report of Case A 38-year-old