Unsuspected paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with intraoperative hypertensive peak: A case report

Abstract

Background. Bladder paraganglioma (BPG) is a very rare tumor. Case report: We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with a history of isolated hematuria. Cystoscopy showed a solid mass on the bottom of the bladder. During the intervention the patient experienced a severe hypertensive episode. BPG was then suspected. Pathology findings confirmed the diagnosis.123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scan showed a pathological tracer accumulation in the left bladder wall consistent with BPG. The patient underwent a transurethral resection of the bladder after drug preparation. The postoperative course was uneventful and our patient was normotensive. Conclusion. Diagnosis of BPG is often made on histological examination of the tumor.