SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2025
Pheochromocytoma metastasis to the central nervous system: a case report and systematic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor, with 10-15% of cases showing malignant behavior defined by metastatic spread, including exceptionally rare central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Brain metastases present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their potential to impair neurological function. This study reports a case of malignant PCC (mPCC) with CNS metastases and a systematic review to clarify the clinical patterns, management strategies, and prognostic factors. Methods: We describe the surgically managed case of a 41-year-old man with right frontoparietal brain metastasis. A systematic review, adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed studies on mPCC with brain or spinal metastases confirmed by radiology or histopathology. Data on demographics, symptoms, imaging, treatments, and outcomes were extracted and descriptively analyzed using Python-generated graphics. Results: This review identified 18 cranial (1948-2022) and 60 spinal (1977-2024) metastasis cases from 53 studies. Cranial metastases were present at a mean age of 46.6 years (SD 14.1), commonly with headaches (44.4%) and neurological deficits, such as weakness, presented in our case, with 72.2% surgically treated. Spinal metastases occurred at a mean age of 44.5 years (SD, 16.0), often with hypertension (51.7%) or pain, with a mean of 1.7 lesions (SD 1.5). The patient achieved short-term symptom relief post-resection, but incomplete follow-up (33.3% cranial) and reporting gaps (63.3% spinal laterality) limited the prognostic insights. MRI and PET improved the diagnostic accuracy over historical non-contrast CT use (41.7% spinal cases). Interpretation: CNS mPCC metastases are exceedingly rare with distinct neurological (cranial) and structural (spinal) presentations. Advanced imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), is critical for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Sparse data underscores the need for registries and prospective studies to standardize care and improve outcomes.
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