Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma incidence

Chanez Kalboussi; Amor Bilel Ben; Hamza Elfekih; Ines Bayar; Taieb Ach; Sana Abid; Ghada Saad; Hela Marmouch; Yosra Hasni; Hanene Sayadi; Ines Khochteli

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP30

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP30 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP30

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Adrenal and Cardiovascular Endocrinology (170 abstracts)

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma incidence

Chanez Kalboussi ¹ , Bilel Ben Amor ¹ , Hamza Elfekih ² , Ines Bayar ¹ , Taieb Ach ² , Sana Abid ¹ , Ghada Saad ² , Héla Marmouch ¹ , Yosra Hasni ² , Hanene Sayadi ¹ & Inès Khochteli ¹

Author affiliations

¹University hospital of Monastir, Endocrinology Department, Monastir, Tunisia; ²University hospital of Sousse, Endocrinology Department, Sousse, Tunisia

JOINT2067

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors, often diagnosed incidentally (1,2). The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in healthcare delivery, potentially influencing the detection of such conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL).

Materials and Methods: We conducted a bicentric retrospective study in the endocrinology departments of two Tunisian university hospitals (Monastir and Sousse, Tunisia). All cases of PHEO and PGL diagnosed between January 1991 and December 2023 were reviewed. Data were extracted from medical records and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Inclusion criteria involved patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PPGL.

Results: We have included 45 patients with PHEO, 8 with PGL and 1 patient who has both PHEO and PGL. Incidentally discovered PPGL on imaging accounted for 51.9% of our cases. The annual incidence of PHEO and PGL in both hospitals was 1.92 cases/year, with a noticeable increase starting in January 2020. Indeed, the annual incidence after 2020 was 5.25 cases/year and 38,8% of our patients were diagnosed between 2020 and 2023.

Discussion: Our study indicates a noticeable increase in the incidence of incidentally discovered PPGL starting in 2020, a trend that aligns with the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift is particularly relevant in the context of changing healthcare dynamics during the pandemic, including the increased use of computed tomographic scan of the thorax. Various studies have noted similar findings (3), highlighting how the pandemic may have influenced the detection of both common and rare conditions.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the incidence and diagnostic pathways of PPGL, with an increasing number of incidental findings noted in imaging studies after 2020.

References: 1. Lenders JWM, Duh QY, Eisenhofer G, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP, Grebe SKG, Murad MH, et al. Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1 juin 2014;99(6):1915-42.2. Kopetschke R, Slisko M, Kilisli A, Tuschy U, Wallaschofski H, Fassnacht M, et al. Frequent incidental discovery of phaeochromocytoma: data from a German cohort of 201 phaeochromocytoma. Eur J Endocrinol. août 2009;161(2):355-61.3. Özdemir Çiflik B, Çiflik KB, Akkaş Y, Yekeler E, Koçer B, Karaoğlanoğlu N. An Analysis of Operated Mediastinal Cysts and Masses. Ann Ital Chir. 20 déc 2024;95(6):1206-12.