Shock da paura: quando è il feocromocitoma a far battere il cuore

Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumour in children that typically presents with hypertension but may lead to life-threatening complications. The paper reports the case of a 12-year-old boy presenting with cardiogenic shock and severe left ventricular dysfunction (EF 20%), requiring advanced mechanical circulatory support (ECMO and Impella). Following the exclusion of myocarditis, the discovery of an adrenal mass and elevated urinary catecholamines led to the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The case illustrates how catecholaminergic cardiomyopathy can mimic acute heart failure. It highlights the necessity of including pheochromocytoma in the differential diagnosis of paediatric cardiogenic shock to ensure timely multidisciplinary intervention and improved prognosis.