Concurrent nonfunctional paraganglioma of the retroperitoneum and urinary bladder: A case report with literature review

Abstract

Paragangliomas are the neuroendocrine tumors which arise from the chromaffin cell. Tumors arising from the adrenal medulla are known as pheochromocytomas, while others originating from the extra-adrenal site are known as extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Paraganglioma can be multifocal which can arise synchronously or metachronously. Paragangliomas are less functionally active than the pheochromocytomas; they secrete noradrenaline and rarely dopamine, while adrenal pheochromocytomas secrete adrenaline or nor-adrenaline. Nonfunctional multifocal paragangliomas are very rare. We report a case of a 45-year-old female with multifocal nonfunctional paragangliomas of the retroperitoneum and urinarybladder which were surgically removed, and the diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology.