Neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and renal cell carcinoma. Occurrence in a single patient
R. S. Fairchild, J. L. Kyner, A. Hermreck and R. N. Schimke
A 26-year-old woman had a neuroblastoma during infancy; an extra-adrenal
pheochromocytoma at age 16 years, with hepatic recurrences during the next
ten years; and multifocal renal cell carcinoma. Neuroblastoma and
pheochromocytoma, despite their common embryologic origin, to our knowledge
have not been previously reported as separate tumors in the same patient.
Although many attributes of the patient's tumors suggest a hereditary
disorder, thorough investigation disclosed no evidence of heritable
conditions associated with any of these tumors in the patient or her family
members. Long-term observation of persons surviving after treatment of
neuroblastoma will be necessary to determine whether this case represents a
previously unidentified tumor predisposition or a sporadic occurrence.
