[A case of vesical paraganglioma with intrapelvic multiplicity]

A 35-year-old woman, who had a past history of hypertension due to paraganglioma of the urinary bladder and in the pelvis, was referred to us 12 years after the initial diagnosis of paraganglioma. Before coming to us and during the follow-up after enucleation of myoma uteri, she was again diagnosed as having a bladder tumor by a gynecologist. Cystoscopy revealed a non-papillary broad-based tumor, measuring 2 cm in diameter, on the trigone of the urinary bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed two solid tumors, each measuring 2 cm in diameter, on the bilateral peri-vesical sides in the pelvis. Endocrinologic examination disclosed increased levels of serum and urinary catecholamines. Histopathologic examination revealed that the bladder tumor specimen obtained by transurethral resection was paraganglioma. She underwent partial cystectomy and resection of these intrapelvic tumors via a retroperitoneal approach. These tumors were histopathologically diagnosed as multiple paragangliomas. She has been followed up for 10 months after operation without any evidence of recurrence. Herein, we report this rare case of vesical paraganglioma and present a brief review of the relevant literature.