Hossienali Soltani - Department of General Surgery, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Imam Ali Hospital, Bojnurd, Iran.
Gohar Nouri - General physician, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Imam Ali Hospital, Bojnurd, Iran.

pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor with origin of adrenal medullary which is formed of chromaffin cells. This tumor release catecholamines and can cause to episodic attack or steady hypertension. This tumor is the reason of ten percent of secondary hypertension. A 43 years old man referred to emergency ward with chief complaint of suddenly abdominal pain in his epigastrium. Ultimately patient underwent laparotomy due to perforated peptic ulcer disease. At the end of surgery patient’s blood pressure increased to 240/150. Despite of primary treatment, the blood pressure didn’t control. In following evaluations such as abdominal CT scan a mass detected in left adrenal gland. Using nuclear scan and biochemical tests approved the pheochromocytoma diagnosis. The tumor successfully resected and pathology report confirmed the diagnosis. pheochromocytoma is a rare and mostly benign tumor which arise from adrenal glands. This tumor is usually unilateral but can be bilateral occasionally. pheochromocytoma due to releasing catecholamines can cause life threatening attacks of hypertension specially in patient without history of hypertension between ages 20 and 50 but can occur at any ages. The treatment is surgical removal of tumor.

pheochromocytoma; adrenal gland; peritonitis