PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA: TWO CASE REPORTS WITH UNUSUAL REACTIONS AND A GENERAL REVIEW

Abstract

Two cases of pheo-chromocytoma producing intermittent headache and hypertension were presented. In the first case paroxysms of hypertension were produced by sleep, ingestion of alcohol, amytal sedation, pressure to the abdomen, standing still for 5 minutes, intravenous histamine and also by benzodioxane (2-(l-piperidylmethyl)-l,4-benzodioxan hydrochloride) and regitine (2-(N''-p-tolyl-N''-m-hydroxy-phenyl-aminomethyl) imidazoline). In the second case paroxysms were produced by Amytal (amobarbital) sedation, hyperventilation, intravenous histamine and intravenous tetra-ethylammonium bromide. Hypertension was lowered by intravenous benzodioxane and not by intramuscular regitine. A brief review of the general subject was presented in which false-positive and false-negative responses to the current pharmacologic tests were stressed. The responses to various maneuvers and drugs were illustrated graphically.