Thunderclap headache without hypertension in a patient with pheochromocytoma

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Brief Report

Hisato Hara¹  Akimitsu Takahashi²  Hitoshi Shimano²  Kiyotaka Nakamagoe³  Akira Tamaoka³  Masahiko Watanabe³  Shintaro Sugita⁴ 

[1] Department of Breast-Thyroid-Endocrine Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;Department of Neurology, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;Department of Pathology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;

关键词: Pheochromocytoma;    Thunderclap headache;    Hypertension;    Palpitation;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s10194-010-0234-z

 received in 2010-04-12, accepted in 2010-06-06,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Pheochromocytoma is a well known, catecholamine-producing tumor characterized by hypertension, headache, hyperglycemia, hypermetabolism, and hyperhydrosis. Approximately 65% of cases of pheochromocytoma were shown to be associated with hypertension. A case of pheochromocytoma that presented with thunderclap headache (TCH) and palpitations is reported. The patient never showed hypertension during the course of the disease. Paroxysmal headache and palpitations led to the identification of the underlying condition, and the final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of a surgical specimen. Pheochromocytoma should be identified as a less common although important cause of TCH. In addition, due to its lack of utility in identifying this disorder, negative cranial imaging may impede further investigation of extracranial lesions that may be the cause of a patient’s headache. According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-II, headache attributed to pheochromocytoma usually develops concomitantly with an abrupt increase in blood pressure. In our case, however, hypertension was never observed, even when the patient was symptomatic. This is the first report of a case of pheochromocytoma with TCH without hypertension.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© Springer-Verlag 2010