We report a case of asymptomatic extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma associated with prostatic cancer, together with some considerations on possible etiology.
A 77-year-old man was seen at the emergency clinic in the hospital because of anuresis during treatment for prostatomegaly in the hospital. With an abdominal CT scan, a retroperitoneal tumor was accidentally detected and the tumor was surgically excised. Pathological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma. No changes in blood pressure were recorded during and after the surgery. Furthermore, adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by a needle biopsy of the prostate after the surgery. A total prostatectomy was added. On immunostainings, over expression of P53 was observed in the both tumors. It was suggested that some genetic abnormality might etiologically participate in this case. There have been no signs of recurrence at present.