A case of pregnancy with ectopic pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder

VernacularTitle:妊娠合并膀胱异位嗜铬细胞瘤1例
Author: Shasha YU ¹ ; Yuchun ZHU ; Xiaopeng LI
Author Information

1. 潍坊市人民医院产科医学中心，潍坊　261001
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Hypertension in pregnancy; Urinary bladder; Pheochromocytoma; Preeclampsia
From: Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(12):1155-1158
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: This report described the diagnosis and management of a 28-year-old pregnant woman with ectopic pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder. At 27 +5 weeks of gestation, the patient developed sudden headache and hypertension [peak blood pressure 173/116 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)] following urination, initially misdiagnosed as preeclampsia. Ultrasonography and MRI revealed a 4.2 cm×3.0 cm×3.3 cm mass in the bladder trigone, with significantly elevated plasma normetanephrine levels confirming ectopic pheochromocytoma. Following multidisciplinary consultation, blood pressure was controlled with phenoxybenzamine and labetalol. Pregnancy was prolonged to 35 weeks when cesarean delivery was performed with concurrent complete tumor resection. Pathology confirmed bladder paraganglioma, with favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. This case highlights the importance of differential diagnosis for secondary hypertension during pregnancy, emphasizing that early diagnosis and individualized management are crucial for optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes.