Paraganglioma of the Urinary Bladder: An Uncommon Entity

Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder is a rare extra-adrenal neuroendocrine tumor arising from chromaffin cells. Accounting for <0.06% of bladder tumors, it may present with nonspecific symptoms (painless hematuria, dysuria) or catecholamine-mediated hypertension. Diagnosis rests on clinical suspicion supported by CT/MRI and biochemical evaluation with plasma or urinary fractionated metanephrines; confirmation is by histopathology with immunohistochemistry. Recognizing this entity before intervention is crucial because it triggers alpha-adrenergic blockade and tailored anesthetic planning, reducing intra-operative hypertensive crises and guiding the choice of definitive surgery (often partial cystectomy rather than TURBT alone). This report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, and management of bladder paraganglioma, and underscores its importance in the differential diagnosis of bladder masses.