Takotsubo cardiomyopathy due to a pheochromocytoma: a case report

TL;DR

A rare case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy linked to a pheochromocytoma is reported, showing atypical heart muscle movement and successful recovery after tumor removal.

Contribution

Highlights an atypical case linking takotsubo cardiomyopathy with pheochromocytoma, emphasizing the importance of considering this rare association.

Findings

The patient showed hypokinesia in the apical and mid-segments of the inferior left ventricle.

Pheochromocytoma was identified as the underlying cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Symptoms resolved after tumor resection, indicating reversibility.

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is typically triggered by severe adrenergic surges secondary to various stress factors. In rare cases, excessive catecholamine secretion due to a pheochromocytoma may be the cause. It is typically manifested by dyskinesia of the apex of the left ventricle. In this case report, we describe an atypical case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, characterized by hypokinesia of the apical and mid-segments of the inferior wall of the left ventricle, which led to the discovery of an underlying pheochromocytoma. Although this association is rare, it is crucial to consider it, especially in atypical forms, as once the tumor is resected, the phenomenon becomes reversible.

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