Undiagnosed phaeochromocytoma mimicking severe preeclampsia in a pregnant woman at term

Summary 

We report an unusual case of phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy. The patient presented with severe hypertension, visual disturbances, proteinuria, glycosuria and pulmonary oedema at 38 weeks’ gestation. The initial diagnosis was severe preeclampsia, but rapid deterioration of the fetus necessitated an emergency caesarean section under general anaesthesia, following which the maternal condition deteriorated rapidly. Differential diagnoses included pulmonary embolus, cardiomyopathy, amniotic fluid embolus and ischaemic/embolic cerebrovascular accident. Despite aggressive maximal treatment, mother and baby died 36 h later. Post mortem examination of the mother revealed a 5.5-cm tumour of the right adrenal gland confirmed histologically as a phaeochromocytoma. We examine the diagnostic dilemmas of this case and consider the treatment and management options when faced with a critically ill mother and the need to deliver her fetus by emergency caesarean section. We also question the clinical priorities during management of a sudden deterioration in both maternal and fetal health.

Keywords: Phaeochromocytoma, Pregnancy, Maternal death, Diagnosis, Obstetric, Anaesthesia, Complications, Anaesthetic techniques