Bladder paraganglioma: A case of acute respiratory distress syndrome triggered by large bladder tumor transurethral resection with mild symptoms and atypical imaging

Introduction Bladder paraganglioma is exceedingly rare, accounting for <0.05% of bladder tumors. This is a case of paraganglioma with no symptom other than palpitations during urination, with atypical imaging, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.<br /> Case presentation A 46-year-old man underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor for a bladder tumor 61 x 52 mm in size on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The patient only had micturition attacks and was suspected to have urothelial carcinoma on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient had acute respiratory distress syndrome after the operation which improved conservatively. The (123)Iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, urinalysis, and pathological examination revealed bladder paraganglioma. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy and ileal neobladder reconstruction were performed.<br /> Conclusion This study reported bladder paraganglioma with no symptoms other than micturition attacks in which acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.