Fatal pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by dobutamine stress echocardiography

Authors

Prabhdeep Sethi MD, Baystate HealthFollow
William Hiser MD, Baystate HealthFollow
Leng Jiang MD, Baystate HealthFollow
Ashequl Islam MD, Baystate HealthFollow
Mara Slawsky MD, Baystate HealthFollow
Nitin Bhatnagar MD, Baystate HealthFollow

Author Department

Medicine

Document Type

Article, Peer-reviewed

Publication Date

11-1-2008

Abstract

The safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) has been demonstrated in multiple studies with a major complication rate of <1%. Specifically, ventricular tachycardia during DSE has a reported incidence of 0.3%, and has been bound to be of no prognostic significance in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease. We report a unique case of fatal pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by DSE in a patient with heretofore unknown adrenal disease. We are once again reminded that no diagnostic modality is absolutely without risk; however, minimal they might be.

Publication ISSN

0884-8734

Recommended Citation

Sethi PS, Hiser W, Gaffar H, Jiang L, Islam A, Bhatnagar N, Slawsky M. Fatal pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by dobutamine stress echocardiography Eur J Echocardiogr 2008 Nov;9(6):819-21.