Pheochromocytoma in Regions of Central TUNISIA: Epidemio-Clinical and Anatomopathological Aspects of 47 Cases

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Résumé

Objectives: describe the epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of this tumor in central Tunisia. Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study of histologically diagnosed cases of pheochromocytoma from january 1993 to december 2023, collected in the cancer registry of central Tunisia. Results: We collected 47 cases of pheochromocytoma with an average of 1.52 cases/year. The mean age was 48.06 years. The sex ratio was 0.68. It was most often discovered in the presence of a tumor syndrome (57.50%) with arterial hypertension (37.50%) and Menard’s triad (27.50%). Only total adrenalectomy specimens were referred, 6.38% of which were extended to the kidney. The left adrenal gland was most affected in 56.52% of cases. On gross examination, the tumor had a mean size of 6.92 cm. It was usually well limited (91.67%), encapsulated (84.85%), greyish (53.85%), friable (50%), with hemorrhagic (65.97%). Histologically, 65.96% of cases were potentially non-aggressive, 34.04% aggressive and 4.25% metastatic. It was composite in 4.25% with a ganglioneuroma component. Stage II was most common in 63.6%. Immunohistochemical confirmation was performed in 59.57%.
Conclusion Pheochromocytoma is rare in central Tunisia. It mainly affects adult women. It is usually non-aggressive and diagnosed at a localized stage. Studies of the genetic are recommended.

Mots-clés

Pheochromocytoma, Anatomopathological, Central Tunisia