Renal autotransplantation for pheochromocytoma involving the renal hilar vessels with kidney preservation: a case report and literature review
- 1Department of Urology, Ningbo Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital
Abstract
Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla that frequently secrete excessive catecholamines. When such tumors involve the renal hilar vessels, ipsilateral nephrectomy has traditionally been preferred, as in situ dissection risks major vascular injury and massive catecholamine release. This study presents a 37-year-old man with a left adrenal pheochromocytoma presenting with a hypertensive crisis (blood pressure 260/110 mmHg). Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to encase the left renal artery and adhere densely to the left renal vein, so the kidney could not be preserved in situ . The left kidney was removed for ex vivo cold perfusion and bench preparation, the tumor was resected in situ , and the kidney was autotransplanted into the left iliac fossa. Histopathology confirmed a pheochromocytoma with malignant potential. At the 2-year follow-up, blood pressure and renal function remained normal without antihypertensive medication, with no evidence of recurrence. Renal autotransplantation combined with ex vivo bench surgery is a feasible kidney-preserving strategy for pheochromocytomas involving the renal hilar vessels.
Related
- A Case of MEN 2A Syndrome With Bilateral Recurrent Pheochromocytoma: A Case Report and Literature Review
- Unilateral mixed corticomedullary tumor of the adrenal gland with a synchronous contralateral pheochromocytoma: A case report and literature review
- Growth hormone-releasing hormone-secreting giant pheochromocytoma causing acromegaly: a case report with a review of the literature
- Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia unmasked by beta-blockade in pheochromocytoma presenting as hypertensive optic neuropathy: a case report and literature review.
- Multimodal imaging and clinical evolution of an optic nerve head granuloma with prominent overlying vessels in ocular sarcoidosis: a case report and literature review
BibTeX
@article{chen2026renal,
title = {{Renal autotransplantation for pheochromocytoma involving the renal hilar vessels with kidney preservation: a case report and literature review}},
author = {Xiaodong Chen and Xiaodong Fan and Guobin Weng and Jiangyong Lou},
journal = {Frontiers in Oncology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fonc.2026.1986562},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1986562/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Renal autotransplantation for pheochromocytoma involving the renal hilar vessels with kidney preservation: a case report and literature review
AU - Xiaodong Chen
AU - Xiaodong Fan
AU - Guobin Weng
AU - Jiangyong Lou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2026.1986562
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1986562/full
AB - Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla that frequently secrete excessive catecholamines. When such tumors involve the renal hilar vessels, ipsilateral nephrectomy has traditionally been preferred, as in situ dissection risks major vascular injury and massive catecholamine release. This study presents a 37-year-old man with a left adrenal pheochromocytoma presenting with a hypertensive crisis (blood pressure 260/110 mmHg). Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to encase the left renal artery and adhere densely to the left renal vein, so the kidney could not be preserved in situ . The left kidney was removed for ex vivo cold perfusion and bench preparation, the tumor was resected in situ , and the kidney was autotransplanted into the left iliac fossa. Histopathology confirmed a pheochromocytoma with malignant potential. At the 2-year follow-up, blood pressure and renal function remained normal without antihypertensive medication, with no evidence of recurrence. Renal autotransplantation combined with ex vivo bench surgery is a feasible kidney-preserving strategy for pheochromocytomas involving the renal hilar vessels.
SN - 2234-943X
ER -