A rare case of malignant paraganglioma of urinary bladder

Paraganglioma are neuroendocrine tumors arising from extra adrenal sympathetic and Para-sympathetic nervous system,1 either from the chromaffin positive paraganglion tissue or the chromaffin negative glomus cells2 derived from the embryonic neural crest. Paraganglioma of urinary bladder is rare, accounting for approx. 0.06% of all bladder tumours.3 The majority of these tumors are benign but can occasionally show malignant behaviour.4 The only absolute criterion for malignancy is the presence of metastasis at sites where chromaffin tissue is not usually found. We report on a patient with a paraganglioma of urinary bladder. Although patient presented with asymptomatic hematuria and had a blood pressure of, these were appreciated after histological examination of total radical cystectomy specimen had elucidated the correct diagnosis.