Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder: a systematic review of the contemporary literature

Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder is a rare tumor that originates from chromaffin tissue of the sympathetic nervous system associated with the urinary bladder wall. Pheochromocytomas are tumors of the sympathetic nervous tissue and may be non-functional or functional, i.e., secrete catecholamine causing paroxysmal hypertension, palpitation, and micturition syncope [1]. Typically these tumors possess the capacity to invade and thus are deemed malignant, yet lack mitoses and cellular dissociation that are usually associated with malignant tumors [2]. Numerous, small series case reports have been published in the English literature since it was first reported in 1953 by Zimmerman et al.[3]. Herein we sought to review the contemporary literature on pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder in hopes of further clarifying presentation, treatment options and outcomes of patients with pheochromocytomas of the urinary bladder.

Average tumor size was 3.9 cm (median 3.45, range 1–9.1 cm). Few studies (n = 7) reported exact tumor stage by the TNM criteria. Of the 106 patients, 65 (61.3%) were noted to have a functional paraganglioma as evident by elevated VMA, metanephrine and/or catecholamines. Furthermore, limited articles reported on CD56, Chromagranin A, and synaptophysin immunohistochemical staining.

The most commonly reported treatment for patients with paraganglioma of the urinary bladder was partial cystectomy 73 (68.9%). Other treatment options for localized/locally advanced paraganglioma of the urinary bladder include TURBT (21; 19.8%) and radical cystectomy (12; 11.3%). Thirty-one patients included in this study did not have known follow-up. Mean follow of the remaining cohort was 34.6 months (median 18; range 0.75-372 months). Fifteen patients (14.2%) were noted to develop a recurrence of the tumor, while 60 patients (56.6%) had no evidence of disease. Metastatic recurrence was noted in ten patients (9.4%). Ten patients (9.4%) were deceased at last follow-up. Of these 10 patients who died, four (3.8%) presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Thus, patients who presented with localized paraganglioma of the urinary bladder have a significantly improved survival compared to patients who presented with locally advanced/metastatic disease.

Pheochromocytomas of the urinary bladder are exceedingly rare tumors accounting for less than 0.05% of all bladder tumors and less than 1% of all pheochromocytomas. In the genitourinary tract, the urinary bladder is the most common site for pheochromocytomas (79.2%), followed by the urethra (12.7%), pelvis (4.9%), and ureter (3.2%) [82, 83]. Furthermore, approximately 10% of all extra adrenal pheochromocytomas are malignant [83]. Since this is such a rare condition, limited, large reports are available to direct clinical decision making. We extensively reviewed the English literature on this subject and report the largest analysis of pheochromocytomas involving the urinary bladder. Our study improves upon previous large reviews [5, 84]. For example, Tsai et al. includes one study dating back to 1911, and then eleven studies between 1989 and 2000 [5]. Our study includes 80 studies between 1980 and 2012, offering a better view for analyzing contemporary outcomes. In addition, we have a total of 106 patients included in our study, the most of any literature review to date, while Tsai et al. only reported on 53 patients. Lastly, our review used a multitude of demographics to depict the disease process of bladder pheochromocytomas, including presenting symptoms, tumor functionality, tumor size, treatment modality and outcomes.

Symptoms reported in the current literature range from the typical micturition attacks of headache and palpitations to more abstract signs such as paraesthesias and dyspnea. While select patients may lack more common presenting symptoms of bladder pheochromocytoma, e.g., hypertension, others may develop hematuria and lower urinary tract symptoms, testifying to the variability in which this disease can present itself. Furthermore, the consequences of hypertension itself may muddle the initial diagnostic picture of these patients. Patients often seek medical attention only when their hypertension has become so advanced as to cause syncope, retinopathy, or intracranial hemorrhage [85]. Physicians must constantly be wary of an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma in the setting of unexplained hypertension or associated symptoms.

Pheochromocytomas can be treated in a number of ways, including catecholamine blockade, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The standard treatment modality for localized or locally advanced pheochromocytomas is surgery, while metastatic or recurrent tumora are treated with palliative therapy [86]. Furthermore, physicians must be aware of poor prognostic indicators, such as large tumor size, advanced stage (≥T3), multifocal tumors, DNA ploidy, and CgA expression [84]. The cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine (the Averbuch protocol) has been shown to be effective against advanced malignant pheochromocytoma [87]. Radiation therapy with ¹³¹I-MIBG radiation therapy has been used with good efficacy for the treatment of MIBG-avid metastases [88]. Approximately 70% of patients included in our literature review underwent partial cystectomy as a means of primary treatment. Including those who underwent radical cystectomy, over 80% of patients were initially treated with aggressive surgical excision. Of the 75 patients with reported follow up, 15 (20%) experienced recurrence or metastasis at the time of last follow-up, illustrating that good symptomatic control and lower morbidity can be achieved with the surgical resection. It is important to note, however, that 4 of these 75 patients (5.3%) did have recurrence or metastases that ultimately caused their death. In the face of metastatic pheochromocytoma, surgical treatment is rarely curative. It may, however, adequately prolong survival by reducing comorbid conditions (i.e. hypertension) and reducing tumor burden, but adjunct therapies are usually indicated [89]. Thus patients should be counseled according to their individual presentation and disease status.

Furthermore, with a lack of high quality data and the lack of organizational guidelines (e.g., EAU, NCCN and AUA) on post-operative follow-up, we recommend no follow-up studies in patients with benign, localized disease. In patients with functional tumors, regardless of stage, VMA, metanephrine and catecholamines levels should be monitored within one month post-surgery, then every six months for two years. Furthermore if regional or metastatic is documented then axial imaging of the abdomen/pelvis should be performed every three months for one year, then every six months for one year, then yearly for three years.

The main limitations of our study relate to its retrospective nature and the large disparity among reporting styles of various institutions. For example, the vast majority of case reports included in this study report on patients presenting with localized or regional disease rather than metastatic disease. This may represent a bias toward reporting on patient’s who’s therapeutic timeline can better be used as an educational platform. The lack of uniformity on how oncologic cases are presented makes it difficult to characterize the true disease course of bladder pheochromocytoma. Information such as patient race, diagnostic findings, and laboratory values should be included whenever possible to better illustrate the pathophysiologic process. Currently, there is no standard staging system for pheochromocytomas. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health recommends dividing patients into three categories: localized, regional, and metastatic disease. In terms of grade and cellular classification of these tumors, the NCI identifies four pathologic features associated with malignancy: large tumor size, increased number of mitosis, DNA aneuploidy, and extensive tumor necrosis [86]. The complete tumor stage and grade are vital additions to any oncologic case report. Describing these characteristics and developing standard reporting criteria will enable future investigations to better collect and analyze information from case reports.

In summary, pheochromocytomas of the urinary bladder tend to be functional and occur mostly in young adult Caucasians. Initial presentation is extremely varied in these cancers, necessitating a low threshold of suspicion in the face of hypertension or hematuria. Patients with localized tumors have a favorable prognosis and may be managed by less radical modalities, whereas patients with metastatic disease have a significantly reduced survival rate. Moving forward, it would be helpful to standardize the reporting guidelines of pheochromocytomas cases to better understand the natural process and outcomes.