A catecholamine crisis on Mount Kilimanjaro: a hypoxia effect?

Sympathetic paragangliomas are autonomic nervous system tumors associated with dysregulation of intracellular oxygen metabolism. Exposure to high altitudes is reported to activate the production of catecholamines in the sympathoadrenal system. We describe an individual with a paraganglioma complicated by a catecholamine crisis that occurred on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.