J Korean Endocr Soc.  2006 Oct;21(5):402-407. 10.3803/jkes.2006.21.5.402.

Urinary Bladder Pheochromocytoma with a Long Asymptomatic Period

• Park SH
• Lee JE
• Moon SS
• Lee JY
• Jung ED
• Kim JG
• Lee IK
• Kim BW

• KMID: 1511990
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2006.21.5.402

Abstract

Pheochromocytoma arises from chromaffin cells of the paraganglionic system. Urinary bladder pheochromocytoma is very rare tumor that accounts for less than 0.06% of all urinary bladder tumors and it is less than 1% of all pheochromocytoma. Urinary bladder pheochromocytoma usually arises from the sympathetic nervous system of the bladder wall. Paroxysmal headache and palpitation precipitated by micturition are common specific symptoms of this tumor. The paroxysm commonly persists or the patients relapse in a few days or months. Herein, we report a case of urinary bladder pheochromocytoma with a long asymptomatic period.

Keyword

Paroxysm; Pheochromocytoma; Urinary bladder

MeSH Terms

Chromaffin Cells
Headache
Humans
Pheochromocytoma*
Recurrence
Sympathetic Nervous System
Urinary Bladder*
Urination

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Computed tomograpgy showed a 4.9 × 3.4 cm sized hypervascluar mass lesion abutting with right side of bladder wall in pelvic cavity (A). No focal mass lesion is seen in both adrenal glands (B, C).

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  Fig. 2 131I-MIBG scan shows tracer uptake in right side of urinary bladder which compatible with pheochromocytoma.

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  Fig. 3 Operative findings (A) and gross feature of tumor (B). There shows a 4 cm sized mass abutting with right side wall of urinary bladder and resection was done.

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  Fig. 4 Microscopic appearance of the resected tumor. A. H&E staining (×200). B. Chromogranin staining (×100). C. S-100 staining (×100).

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  Fig. 5 Post-operative cycstography showed no visible contrast leakage and any defect or irregularities of urinary bladder wall.

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