Also known as: VHL disease
Air Force captain preparing for NASA astronaut training presents with synesthesia, elevated red blood cell count, heart attack, and respiratory distress. Ultimately diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome causing multiple organ cysts including pheochromocytoma.
Also known as: Hearing with eyes
Patient experiences auditory-visual synesthesia where she begins to 'hear with her eyes,' initially thought to be a primary condition but later revealed as a symptom of VHL syndrome affecting the brain.
Also known as: Heart stopped
Patient suffers cardiac arrest with v-fib while in hyperbaric chamber, requiring defibrillation in an oxygen-rich environment causing a fire. Later revealed to be caused by pheochromocytoma from VHL syndrome.
Also known as: Thick blood from too many red blood cells
Elevated red blood cell count discovered on initial blood work, initially suspected to be from carbon monoxide poisoning but ultimately part of Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome presentation.
Also known as: Lung cysts
Multiple cysts discovered in both lungs causing breathing difficulties, found during breast augmentation surgery used as cover for lung biopsy. Part of systemic Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
Also known as: Adrenal tumor
Suspected catecholamine-secreting tumor as part of VHL syndrome, explaining the cardiac arrhythmias and neurological symptoms including synesthesia and panic attacks.