Renal infarction associated with extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytomas have been described to be associated with renal infarction in a few sporadic cases. The underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are catecholamine-induced vasospasm and direct compression or invasion of the tumor on renal artery or its branches. However, renal infarction caused by extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma is rarely reported. We describe an unusual case of benign extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma complicated with left renal infarction by severe vasospasm.