Paraganglioma in the bladder: a case report

BACKGROUND: Paraganglioma is an extra site of pheochromocytoma. Paraganglioma in the bladder is a very rare disease accounting for 0.06% of all bladder tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old Japanese man was referred to our department for the further examination of a bladder tumor detected on preoperative computed tomography of his gastric cancer. Cystoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor in the upper area of his bladder, so transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed. During transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, his blood pressure sharply increased, and a pathological examination showed paraganglioma in his bladder. Postoperative I-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy detected a higher intake of his bladder tumor. Laboratory examinations showed a slightly increased noradrenaline level of 530 pg/ml and reduced platelet count at 167,000/μL. Based on the progression of his gastric cancer, no additional therapy was performed on his bladder tumor. Eight months after surgery, he died from aspiration pneumonitis. CONCLUSIONS: Here we report a rare case of paraganglioma in the bladder. We discuss paraganglioma based on previous studies.