# Individualized Anesthetic Management of a Patient With Pheochromocytoma and Concurrent Breast Cancer: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 49-year-old woman with pheochromocytoma and breast cancer successfully underwent surgery with careful anesthetic planning and multidisciplinary coordination.

## Contribution

This case report provides a rare example of anesthetic management for pheochromocytoma patients undergoing non-tumor-specific major surgery.

## Key findings

- Multidisciplinary collaboration enabled safe breast cancer surgery in a patient with pheochromocytoma.
- Intraoperative strategies effectively managed catecholamine release risks.
- Perioperative preparation and monitoring ensured successful outcomes despite complex comorbidities.

## Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that present a challenge for surgical and anesthetic management due to their ability to produce significant amounts of catecholamines. This case report highlights the successful management of a 49-year-old woman simultaneously diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, pheochromocytoma, and breast cancer. A key decision by the multidisciplinary team involving endocrinology, general surgery, senology, intensive care, and anesthesiology was to prioritize breast cancer surgery over pheochromocytoma resection. This decision considered the potential for improved prognosis and the need to minimize chemotherapy dosage. The case emphasizes the importance of thorough perioperative preparation, including assessing end-organ damage and optimizing medical therapy. Intraoperative management effectively navigated periods prone to catecholamine release, and postoperative care was closely monitored. This case demonstrates that with meticulous planning, a multidisciplinary approach, and a precise anesthetic strategy, safe anesthesia is achievable for patients with pheochromocytoma undergoing major elective surgeries other than pheochromocytoma resection, adding valuable knowledge to a scarcely documented clinical area.