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Severe constipation as the presenting complaint of phaeochromocytoma
Author(s) -
Williams A. J. K.,
Palmer K. R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1991.tb01416.x
Subject(s) - medicine , constipation , pheochromocytoma , radiology , gastroenterology
Phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour which may present with gastrointestinal features. We report two patients who presented with severe constipation and were found to have a malignant phaeochromocytoma. Both patients deteriorated following barium contrast radiology. In the first patient, constipation improved following pharmacological manipulation with a and β adrenoreceptor antagonists. The diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma must be considered in a constipated patient with the features of catecholamine excess. (Aust NZ J Med 1991; 21: 888–890.)