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| Year : 2012 | Volume
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| Issue : 4 | Page : 813-816 |
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| Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder: A rare cause of severe hypertension |
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Abhinandan M Hanji1, Vinayak S Rohan2, Jayesh J Patel1, Rajena A Tankshali1
1 Department of Surgical Oncology, Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India
2 Department of Surgical Oncology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
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| Date of Web Publication | 9-Jul-2012 |
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 Abstract | | |
Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder is a rare entity, and accounts for less than 0.5% of all bladder tumors. In the genitourinary tract, the urinary bladder is the most common site for paragangliomas. These tumors commonly present with hematuria and intermittent hypertension during micturition along with generalized symptoms due to raised catecholamines. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice, with most of the patients requiring at least a partial cystectomy. We herewith report a 38-year-old lady who presented with a two month history of pain abdomen, burning micturition, headache and uncontrolled hypertension. Detailed investigations revealed a pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder, which was treated with partial cystectomy, following which her blood pressure stabilized.
How to cite this article:
Hanji AM, Rohan VS, Patel JJ, Tankshali RA. Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder: A rare cause of severe hypertension. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2012;23:813-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Hanji AM, Rohan VS, Patel JJ, Tankshali RA. Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder: A rare cause of severe hypertension. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl [serial online] 2012 [cited 2020 Nov 30];23:813-6. Available from: https://www.sjkdt.org/text.asp?2012/23/4/813/98167 |
| Introduction | |  |
Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder is a rare entity and accounts for less than 0.5% of all bladder tumors. Paragangliomas have been reported to arise from the orbit, ear, nose, larynx, carotid area, mediastinum, duodenum and the genitourinary tract. [1] In the genitourinary tract, the urinary bladder is the most common site for paragangliomas (79.2%), followed by the urethra (12.7%), pelvis (4.9%) and ureter (3.2%). [2]
| Case Report | | |
A 38-year-old lady presented with a two months history of pain abdomen, burning micturition and headache. On examination, she had hypertension of 200/110 mmHg. There was no family history of hypertension. The patient was on multiple anti-hypertensive drugs, despite which her blood pressure was not adequately controlled. Urinary vanillylmandelic acid was tested, which showed a value of 26 mg/g (normal: 2-8 mg/g). Echocardiography showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Computerized tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis was performed, which showed a 40 mm × 45 mm × 55 mm lobulated hypo-dense lesion with internal cystic areas situated at the right postero-lateral wall of the urinary bladder, involving the right vesicoureteric junction and the lower end of the right ureter, leading to right hydrouretronephrosis. Intense early arterial phase enhancement was seen [Figure 1]. On the basis of clinical and imaging findings, a diagnosis of extra-adrenal pheopheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder was considered. Cystoscopic findings further confirmed our diagnosis. Pre-operatively, her hypertension was controlled with an alfa blocker (prazosin). Partial cystectomy and excision of the lower end of the right ureter along with reimplantation of the right ureter was successfully performed. Her blood pressure was well controlled intra-operatively. | Figure 1: Computerized tomography scan of the pelvis showing a 40 mm × 45 mm × 55 mm lobulated hypodense lesion with internal cystic areas situated at the right postero-lateral wall of the urinary bladder, involving right vesicoureteric junction.
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Gross examination of the tumor revealed a 5 cm × 4.2 cm × 3.4 cm growth, the cut-surface of which was yellowish and firm in consistency. Microscopically, the tumor showed growth pattern located in the sub-mucosal region with infiltrates extending from the lamina propria up to the serosa. The peri-vesical fat was free. The cells presented a pale to pink granular cytoplasm, with small nucleus and a low N:C ratio [Figure 2]. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a positive reaction to vimentin, chromogranin, neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin, compatible with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. | Figure 2: Microscopic examination of the resected tumor showing cells with a pale to pink granular cytoplasm with small nucleus (H&E 10×).
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Post-operatively, her blood pressure stabilized. She remains asymptomatic and is on regular follow-up for the past 15 months with well-controlled blood pressure.
| Discussion | | |
Pheochromocytomas of the urinary bladder arise from the chromaffin tissues of the sympathetic nervous system within all layers of the bladder wall. It is a rare neoplasm, accounting for less than 0.5% of all bladder tumors and less than 1% of all pheochromocytomas. [3]
Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas are found in 10% of adults and up to 30% in children suffering from pheochromocytomas. [3] Most of the pheochromocytomas of the urinary bladder occur in young and middle-aged adults, and are more common in women. Paragangliomas usually have a benign clinical course, with only 10% being malignant. The cytologic features of benign and malignant tumors overlap and, thus, there are no reliable features of malignancy. [4]
These tumors commonly present with hematuria and intermittent hypertension during micturition along with generalized symptoms due to raised catecholamines such as headache, blurred vision, palpitations and flushing. The classical triad of episodic hypertension, persistent hematuria and post-micturition syncope is virtually diagnostic, but is very rare. [1] Our patient presented with hypertension and headache but with no hematuria. Commonly, urinary bladder pheochromocytomas are hormonally active with elevated catecholamine metabolites. [3] Imaging studies are useful in localizing the tumor. On ultrasonography (USG), pheochromocytomas appear as sharply demarcated soft tissue masses that may be purely solid or may contain foci of hemorrhage and necrosis that appear cystic. [5] CT scan is more sensitive than USG in detecting adrenal (94%) and extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more sensitive than CT scan for detecting small extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas. I 131 meta-iodobenzyl-guanidine (MIBG) scan serves as a complementary functional diagnostic tool, but its use is limited because of its expense and restricted availability. [6]
Cystoscopic examination aids in delineating the exact location of the lesion with regard to the depth of invasion and involvement of the ureters. On cystoscopy, pheochromocytomas appear as granulated and lobulated lesions, with or without ulceration. [7] Role of biopsy for confirmation is debatable. [2]
Treatment options include trans-urethral resection, laparoscopic or open cystectomy (partial or radical) with the aim of complete local excision of the tumor. [8] Surgical removal is the treatment of choice. Because the sympathetic plexus of the bladder is scattered between all layers of the bladder, at least a partial cystectomy will be required. [9] This can be done either by open surgery [10],[11] or through laparoscopy. [12] In patients with functioning tumors, it is recommended to be very careful in the preand intra-operative period in order to prevent hypertensive crises.
Radiotherapy is only indicated in unresectable lesions, positive margins or patients unfit for surgery. [9] The role of chemotherapy is controversial, and is given in advanced cases and in metastatic disease. Most commonly used drugs are cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine (CVD). [13],[14],[15]
Prognosis depends on the presence of metastases, size of the lesion and familial endocrinopathy. [10] Patients with pheochromocytoma need prolonged follow-up to detect local recurrences or metastases that have been described 20 and 40 years after treatment. [16] To summarize, a high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder as it is a rare tumor. In patients with uncontrolled hypertension or hypertension fluctuating with micturition, a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma should be considered. Suspected cases should be thoroughly investigated by imaging studies such as CT and MRI scans before venturing to surgery.
| References | | |
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Correspondence Address:
Vinayak S Rohan
Department of Surgical Oncology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
India
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DOI: 10.4103/1319-2442.98167 
[Figure 1], [Figure 2] |
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