Case History
A 47-year-old male patient, complaining paroxysmal palpitation and sweating, was admitted to our hospital in March 25, 2015. According to the medical history provided, he was discovered a left adrenal mass(7×5×4cm large) 6 years earlier. At the onset, there was no remarkable abnormalities except impaired glucose metabolism (fasting blood glucose 11mmol/L, postprandial blood glucose 23mmol/L). An open left adrenal tumor resection was performed in September 11, 2009 after short-term insulin treatment and drug preparation. Postoperative pathological examinations suggested a phaeochromocytoma. The patient’s glucose regulation improved after resection without any glucose-lowering medications, remaining only a slight increase in postprandial blood glucose (fasting blood glucose 4-5mmol/L, postprandial blood glucose 9-10mmol/L). However, he underwent a secondary operation in April 8, 2011 due to recurrence in bilateral adrenal glands. In the next year, follow-up CT scan showed several obviously contrast-enhanced nodules in the right adrenal gland, pancreas and near the abdominal aorta, revealing a second recurrence. Regular imaging examinations showed no significant progress and the patient had no overt presentations until the visit to our hospital. On further questioning, the patient admitted a positive family history: his elder son was found phaeochromocytomas in both adrenal glands and received surgical treatment in 2009 (at the age of 18), and the tumors recurred in 2011. No tumors were found in other relatives.