scholarly journals Adrenal Cortex-Sparing Surgery for Bilateral Multiple Pheochromocytomas in a Patient with Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarık Esen ◽  
Ömer Acar ◽  
Ahmet Tefekli ◽  
Ahmet Musaoğlu ◽  
İzzet Rozanes ◽  
...  

Pheochromocytomas can be a part of familial neoplastic syndromes, in which case they tend to be multiple and involve both adrenal glands. Therefore, sparing adrenocortical function represents a major concern while dealing with these hereditary lesions. Herein, we describe the clinical characteristics and the management strategy of a patient with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease who had multiple, bilateral pheochromocytomas as well as bilateral renal masses, pancreatic masses, and a paracaval mass. Only a portion of the left adrenal gland has remained in situ after two consecutive open surgeries and a percutaneous radiofrequency ablation which have been performed to treat the various components of this syndrome. No adrenal or extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma recurrences have been detected during a follow-up period of more than 2 years. Pancreatic and adrenal functions were normal throughout the postoperative period and never necessitated any replacement therapy. Adrenal cortex-sparing surgery is a valid option for VHL disease patients who present with synchronous bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas.

2015 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Cassol ◽  
Ozgur Mete

von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene that is characterized by the occurrence of multiple endocrine and nonendocrine lesions. This review focuses on the endocrine manifestations of VHL disease. Pancreatic neuroendocrine proliferations (ductuloinsular complexes, islet dysplasia, endocrine microadenoma, and neuroendocrine tumors), pheochromocytomas, and extra-adrenal paragangliomas are important endocrine manifestations of VHL disease. They frequently display characteristic clinical, biochemical, and histopathologic features that, although not pathognomonic, can be helpful in suggesting VHL disease as the underlying etiology and distinguishing these tumors from sporadic cases. Recent improvements in treatment and outcomes of renal cell carcinomas have allowed pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to emerge as a significant source of metastatic disease, making the accurate recognition and classification of these neoplasms by the pathologist of utmost importance to determine prognosis, treatment, and follow-up strategies for affected patients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 2025-2032
Author(s):  
Fabio Pomerri ◽  
Giuseppe Opocher ◽  
Chiara Dal Bosco ◽  
Pier Carlo Muzzio ◽  
Gisella Gennaro

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATRIZ GONZÁLEZ-RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
MARIA GONZÁLEZ-RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
NATALIA BEJARANO RAMÍREZ ◽  
ROSA MARÍA JIMÉNEZ ESCRIBANO ◽  
FRANCISCO JAVIER REDONDO CALVO

Abstract Purpose. von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease is a familiar syndrome associated with benign and malignant tumors. These tumors appear in the retina, cerebellum, spinal cord, and kidney. Retinal hemangioblastomas are one of the earliest and most frequent manifestations of this entity, and they can lead to blindness at a young age. Propranolol could be a promising treatment for retinal hemangioblastomas in von Hippel Lindau disease. Methods. Prospective cohort study. Seven patients with VHL disease and ocular affection that had rejected conventional treatment were included. Prospective analysis of seven patients was performed. We evaluated them for three years, with a complete ophthalmic evaluation that included: visual acuity, intraocular pressure, an examination of the anterior segment of the eye, fundoscopy, retinography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Heart rate and blood pressure on each patient were also measured. During the follow-up evaluation, two patients discontinued the treatment with propranolol after the first year and rejected any further treatment for their ocular affection; the rest continued therapy for the three years. Results: Visual acuity and tumor areas remained stable in 4 patients. Increased and new retinal exudation area was found in the two patients that discontinued the treatment with oral propranolol. Conclusions: Oral propranolol has shown a role in the reabsorption of retinal exudates in patients with von Hippel Lindau affection. It could delay or stabilize the ocular disease, maintaining visual acuity, and avoiding further complications in these patients. It is a well-known and available drug, without so many secondary effects, that could also have a role in other ocular diseases that course with exudation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell R. Lonser ◽  
John A. Butman ◽  
Ruwan Kiringoda ◽  
Debbie Song ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield

Object Pituitary stalk hemangioblastomas are rare, and information on them is limited to a small number of case reports. To gain insight into the incidence, clinical effects, and management of pituitary stalk hemangioblastomas, the authors analyzed a series of patients with von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease. Methods Patients with VHL disease who were enrolled in a prospective National Institutes of Health natural history study were included. Clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings were analyzed. Results Two hundred fifty patients were included in the study (120 male and 130 female patients). In 8 patients (3%), 8 pituitary stalk hemangioblastomas were identified on MR imaging. This anatomical location was the most common supratentorial site for these lesions; 29% of all supratentorial hemangioblastomas were found there. The mean (± standard deviation) pituitary stalk hemangioblastoma volume was 0.5 ± 0.9 cm3 (range 0.08–2.8 cm3). Results of endocrine laboratory profiles were normal in all patients. All patients remained asymptomatic and none required treatment during the follow-up period (mean duration 41.4 ± 14.4 months). Conclusions The pituitary stalk is the most common site for the development of supratentorial hemangioblastomas in patients with VHL disease. Pituitary stalk hemangioblastomas often remain asymptomatic and do not require treatment. These findings indicate that pituitary stalk hemangioblastomas in patients with VHL disease may be managed with observation and that surgery for them can be reserved until associated signs or symptoms occur.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATRIZ GONZÁLEZ-RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
MARIA GONZÁLEZ-RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
NATALIA BEJARANO RAMÍREZ ◽  
ROSA MARÍA JIMÉNEZ ESCRIBANO ◽  
FRANCISCO JAVIER REDONDO CALVO

Abstract Background. von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease is a familial syndrome associated with benign and malignant tumours. These tumours appear in the retina, among other locations. The retinal hemangioblastomas are one of the earliest and most frequent manifestations of this entity, and they can lead to blindness at a young age. Propranolol could be a promising treatment for retinal hemangioblastomas in von Hippel Lindau disease Methods. Prospective cohort study of seven patients with VHL disease and ocular affection that had rejected conventional treatment, taking oral propranolol. We evaluated them for three years, with a complete ophthalmic evaluation that included: visual acuity, intraocular pressure, an examination of the anterior segment of the eye, fundoscopy, retinography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Heart rate and blood pressure were also measured. During the follow-up evaluation, two patients discontinued the treatment with propranolol after the first year and rejected any further treatment for their ocular affection; the rest continued therapy. Results. Visual acuity and tumour areas remained stable in 4 patients. Increased and new retinal exudation area was found in the two patients that discontinued the treatment with oral propranolol. Conclusions. Oral propranolol has shown a role in the reabsorption of retinal exudates in patients with VHL affection. It could delay or stabilise the ocular disease, maintaining visual acuity and avoiding further complications in these patients. It is a well-known and available drug, without so many secondary effects, that could also have a role in other ocular diseases that course with exudation. Trial registration. VHL-HOPE-2014-1. EudraCT Number: 2014-003671-30; Registered 22 September 2014 - https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2014-003671-30/ES


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Taylor Jarrell ◽  
Alexander O. Vortmeyer ◽  
W. Marston Linehan ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield ◽  
Russell R. Lonser

Object Patients with hereditary cancer syndromes may be at increased risk for the development of tumor-to-tumor metastases. To gain insight into the biological nature of these lesions in the central nervous system (CNS), to determine their prevalence in a familial neoplasia syndrome, and to better define their management, the authors retrospectively examined a series of cases in which metastatic lesions developed within hemangioblastomas in patients with von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease. Methods The study included all cases of VHL disease in which patients underwent resection of a CNS hemangioblastoma that contained a metastasis or were found at autopsy to have a metastasis to a hemangioblastoma between January 2002 and December 2005 at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Clinical, histopathological, imaging, and surgical and/or autopsy findings were analyzed. Metastasis to a CNS hemangioblastoma was found in six resected tumors (8% of all hemangioblastomas resected from patients with VHL disease at the NINDS during the study period) from six patients (five women, one man; mean age at surgery 42.5 years). The primary site of metastatic disease was the kidney in five patients (renal cell carcinoma) and the pancreas in one (a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor). Only one patient had systemic metastases at the time of resection of the hemangioblastoma containing the metastasis. Neurologically, all patients had remained at baseline or were improved at last clinical follow-up examination (mean follow-up duration 16.5 months, range 3–40 months). In all cases, postoperative imaging revealed that the hemangioblastoma resection was complete, and there was no evidence of recurrence in any of the patients at the last follow up. Two patients (including one who was also in the surgical group) were found at autopsy to have CNS metastases exclusively to spinal hemangioblastomas. Conclusions Hemangioblastomas are an early and preferred site for metastasis in VHL disease. Emerging histopathological techniques may lead to recognition of an increasing number of cases of tumor-to-hemangioblastoma metastasis. Management of cases involving tumor-to-hemangioblastoma metastases in VHL disease should be based on the histological characteristics of the primary tumor, extent of the primary disease, and completeness of the resection.


2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-272
Author(s):  
Milan Petakov ◽  
Marina Djurovic ◽  
Dragana Miljic ◽  
Sandra Obradovic ◽  
Mirjana Doknic ◽  
...  

A 70-year old female was admitted to the hospital because of hypertension increased sweating and weight loss. The hypertension was sustained. Five months before admission CT scan of the abdomen had revealed a well-defined right adrenal mass together with left kidney tumor. A magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen confirmed the presence of the right adrenal and left kidney masses, but also showed another tumor in the pancreas between the body and the tail. Urinary 24-hour noradrenaline was grossly elevated and confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. 131I-metaiodobenzylgvanidine (MIBG) scintiscan showed increased MIBG uptake in the right adrenal gland. After pre-treatment with phenoxybenzamine 30 mg daily, the patient was operated, and the right adrenalectomy was done. Histopathological examination revealed encapsulated adrenal pheochromocytoma without infiltrative characteristics and lymph node metastasis. After the operation hypertension was controlled easily with amlodipine. The patient was discharged for recovery. Ulteriorly, SSCP (single strand conformational polymorphism) method detected a point mutation in the third exon of the VHL (von Hippel-Linday) gene. It was decided to follow up the patient with the von Hippel-Lindau disease, while waiting for the results of the sequence analysis to confirm that the found mutation is not associated with renal cancer.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 756-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon A. J. Lovisolo ◽  
Claudio P. Legramandi ◽  
Aldo Fonte

Thermal ablation of renal tumors is achieved by the delivery of extreme heat or extreme cold directly to the lesion in order to obtain in situ destruction of the malignant cells without having to remove the entire organ. Cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are becoming more and more attractive for the treatment of small lesions in select cases. Other types of energy such as microwave, laser and high intensity ultrasound have also been used to destroy kidney lesions but must still be considered in the experimental stage. Cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are minimally invasive and have been shown to be safe and effective in treating tumors up to 3–4 cm in diameter. However, the number of case series is rather limited and follow-up, especially for radiofrequency ablation, is short. Only now are workers beginning to present outcomes after 5 years for cryoablation. Therefore, the long-term oncological efficacy of these ablation techniques remains to be seen. As longer follow-up and greater patient numbers are reported we will get a clearer picture of the true potential of these modalities. Randomized prospective trials would be auspicable. For now, CA and RFA should be limited to few select patients i.e. patients with comorbidities which render them at high risk for a surgical procedure and possibly patients with genetic conditions such as Von Hippel Lindau disease who will probably develop multiple tumors.


2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (5) ◽  
pp. 818-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Y. Ye ◽  
Kamran D. Bakhtian ◽  
Ashok R. Asthagiri ◽  
Russell R. Lonser

Object Prior cases suggest that pregnancy increases the development and progression of CNS hemangioblastomas and/or peritumoral cysts. To determine the effect of pregnancy on CNS hemangioblastomas and peritumoral cysts, the authors prospectively evaluated serial clinical and imaging findings in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease who became pregnant and compared findings during pregnancy to findings in the same patients when they were not pregnant as well as to findings from a cohort of VHL patients who did not become pregnant. Methods Female VHL disease patients enrolled in a prospective natural history study who were of reproductive age (16–35 years at study entrance) were included. Analysis of serial clinical and imaging findings was performed. Results Thirty-six consecutive female VHL disease patients harboring 177 hemangioblastomas were included (mean follow-up [± SD] 7.5 ± 2.3 years). Nine patients (25%) became pregnant (pregnancy cohort). The mean rates of development of new hemangioblastomas and peritumoral cysts in these women during pregnancy (0.4 ± 0.4 tumors/year; 0.1 ± 0.2 cysts/year) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from the mean rates in the same group during nonpregnant periods (0.3 ± 0.4 tumors/year; 0.1 ± −0.1 cysts/year) or from the rate in the 27 patients who did not become pregnant (the no-pregnancy cohort: 0.3 ± 0.5 tumors/year; 0.1 ± 0.2 cysts/year). Hemangioblastoma growth rates were similar (p > 0.05) during pregnancy (mean 29.8% ± 42.7% increase in volume per year) compared with during nonpregnant periods (41.4% ± 51.4%) in the pregnancy cohort and the no-pregnancy cohort (34.3% ± 55.3%). Peritumoral cyst growth rates during pregnancy (571.0% ± 887.4%) were similar (p > 0.05) to those of the no-pregnancy cohort (483.9% ± 493.9%), but the rates were significantly higher for women in the pregnancy cohort during nonpregnant periods (2373.6% ± 3392.9%; p < 0.05 for comparison with no-pregnancy cohort). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the need for resection or the mean age at resection between the pregnancy (28% of hemangioblastomas in cohort; mean patient age at resection 30.2 ± 2.6 years) and no-pregnancy cohorts (19%; 32.3 ± 5.6 years). Conclusions Pregnancy is not associated with increased hemangioblastoma or peritumoral cyst development or progression in patients with VHL disease.


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