Phaeochromocytomas usually occur sporadically but may be associated with dominant inherited cancer syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) and type 1 neurofibromatosis. We report on a boy presenting at age 8 years with an isolated benign phaeochromocytoma of the left adrenal. Three years later a second adrenal phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed on the right side and removed. His family history was negative. Genetic analysis did not show a mutation in the MEN 2 susceptible proto-oncogene rearranged during transfection; however, we found a germline missense mutation in the VHL gene (nucleotide 695 G to A transversion) which has been described only twice before in the literature. Both parents had normal (wild type) VHL copies indicating that our patient had a de novo germline VHL mutation. Careful clinical evaluation of the patient at 18 years did not reveal any other manifestations of VHL disease.
Conclusion: Carriers of von Hippel-Lindau germline mutations can present with a form fruste of von Hippel-Lindau disease presenting initially with unilateral phaeochromocytoma and therefore mutation analysis should be carried out.