The Vital Role of ¹³¹I-MIBG in Localization of Paraganglioma at Unusual Sites

Abstract

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are extra-adrenal neuroendocrine tumors. PGL of the urinary bladder are very rare and commonly present with features of hypertensive crisis, headache, syncope, and other symptoms of sympathetic excess. A few of these tumors are silent at the presentation. Here, we report a case of a urinary bladder PGL, presenting with lower abdominal pain.

Keywords

bladder PGL - ¹³¹I MIBG - neuroendocrine tumor - paraganglioma - urinary bladder

Introduction

Pheochromocytomas are chromaffin cell-derived neuroendocrine tumors (NET) occurring in the adrenal medulla. Such tumors occurring at extra-adrenal sites are referred to as paraganglioma (PGL). Paragangliomas of urinary bladder are rare.[1] [2] Here, we are reporting a rare case of PGL of urinary bladder who presented with lower abdominal pain.

Case Summary

A 55-year-old female presented with the complaint of lower abdominal pain for 6 years. Pain was more on micturition. Her physical examination was unremarkable. There was no other comorbidity. Patient underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography abdomen, which revealed 4.1 × 3.4 cm size, exophytic, well-defined mass lesion, arising from the neck of the urinary bladder and bulging into the bladder lumen. On laboratory evaluation, there was marked elevation of plasma normetanephrines, 2,260 ng/L (20–135.4 ng/L) and plasma metanephrines were also significantly raised, 166 ng/L (7.9–88.7). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pelvis revealed well-defined lobulated, intensely enhancing submucosal urinary bladder mass lesion. Considering clinical and radiological findings, likely possibility of PGL, rhabdomyosarcoma and carcinoma urinary bladder were considered. Subsequently, patient was referred to Nuclear Medicine Department and iodine-131 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (¹³¹I MIBG) scan was performed after intravenous injection of 27.75 MBq (0.75 mCi) of ¹³¹I MIBG. Whole body planar images ([Fig. 1]) were acquired 24 and 48 hours after the injection, which showed MIBG avid lesion in pelvic region. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) pelvis ([Fig. 2]) was acquired at 48 hours, which revealed a discrete MIBG avid lesion, involving right lateral wall of urinary bladder, which is congruent with the site of an intraluminal, exophytic soft tissue density, mass lesion seen near the neck of urinary bladder. No significant background urinary tracer activity seen in the bladder at 48 hours. Also, no other ¹³¹I MIBG avid lesion was seen in rest of the body to suggest multiplicity or metastatic disease. There was no concomitant endocrinopathy or dermatopathy on clinical evaluation to suggest familial or syndromic etiology.

Fig. 1 ¹³¹I MIBG Scintigraphy reveal discrete MIBG avid lesion, in the urinary bladder region. (A) Whole body images in anterior and posterior views. (B) Spot images of abdomen acquired at 48 hours, postinjection. Focal tracer activity seen in epigastric region is due to physiological uptake in enlarged left hepatic lobe.

Fig. 2 Iodine-131 meta-iodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computed tomography (¹³¹I MIBG SPECT/CT) images of pelvis showing MIBG avid discrete, soft tissue density intraluminal exophytic mass lesion arising from right lateral wall, near the neck of urinary bladder and extending into bladder lumen, measuring 4.1 × 3.4 cm in size. Marked clearance of background tracer activity seen in the urinary bladder at 48 hours. (A) Sagittal and axial section CT images, (B) functional images, and (C) fused SPECT/CT images.

Following initial evaluation, the patient underwent robotic-assisted resection of vesical PGL. Postoperative histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of well-differentiated PGL. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers including chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and S-100 were positive, while cytokeratin 7 and 20 was negative ([Fig. 3]). On clinical follow-up, patient's symptoms were relieved and there was no other complaint, up to 1.5 years postresection.

Fig. 3 Histopathological examination of biopsy specimen (A) hematoxylin and eosin stain (20×), showing large polygonal to spindle shaped cells arranged in Zellballen pattern with (B) chromogranin A and (C) synaptophysin, positivity on immunohistochemistry, suggestive of paraganglioma.

Discussion

Urinary bladder PGLs are rare tumors, arise from chromaffin tissue of the sympathetic nervous system within the layers of the bladder wall and constitute approximately 0.06% of all bladder tumors.[1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Bladder PGL occur most commonly in second to fourth decade of life, are more common in females than males (3:1).[1] [5] These may be sporadic or associated with germline mutations. Up to 50% are known to be associated with germline mutations such as VHL, MEN2, NF1, RET, SDH; these patients are ideal candidates for genetic counseling and family screening.[2]

Most of the bladder PGLs are functional tumors and present with symptoms of sympathetic excess such as hypertension, palpitation, headache, and syncope. Symptoms of sympathetic excess characteristically occur during micturition, hence called as micturition crisis,[3] which is due to compression of tumor during micturition. These symptoms can also be seen with defecation, sexual activity, or bladder instrumentation. About 17% of nonfunctional tumors may present incidentally or with symptoms such as hematuria, features of lower urinary tract symptom such as frequency, urgency, and obstruction of outflow tract, if present at the neck of the bladder.[1] Hematuria is most common presentation and occurs in approximately 50 to 60% of patients overall.[1]

Bladder PGLs are usually well-defined, solid, ovoid, vascular lesion located in submucosa with 10% having peripheral calcification. On ultrasonography, these appear as echogenic masses with Doppler showing hypervascularity with low impedance flow. CT usually reveal nonspecific features such as soft tissue attenuation with homogenous enhancement.[8] [9] MRI constitutes the most sensitive modality for diagnosis but is less specific. T1-weighted images show minimal hyperintensity compared with muscle, but it is slightly hyperintense on T2W images and characteristically show salt and pepper appearance.[6] [8] [9]

MIBG is a guanethidine analogue functionally similar to noradrenaline, transported into cells by reuptake pathway of adrenergic presynaptic neurons; within the cells MIBG is transported into catecholamine storing granules and it is not metabolized.[10] Functional imaging with radioiodine labeled MIBG is not only highly specific for diagnosis of PGL but also helps in localization of metastasis. SPECT/CT further increases its diagnostic value.[7] MIBG can be labeled with both ¹²³I and ¹³¹I. ¹²³I is better suited for imaging due to 159 keV gamma emission, while ¹³¹I is a theragnostic agent with both β and high energy of 364 keV gamma emissions. But ¹²³I is not available in India; hence, ¹³¹I MIBG is commonly used.

However, most of neuroendocrine neoplasias (NENs) express somatostatin receptors (SSTR), which can be used as targets for radionuclide imaging and therapy. Kroiss et al reported that ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA PET/CT targeting the SSTR of NEN has superior performance to ¹²³I MIBG-SPECT/CT in diagnosis and staging of pheochromocytoma and PGL.[11] Although all PGL may not show SSTR positivity, it can be missed on SSTR scan. Most recent publications by Parra et al and Kroiss et al have also reported lack of SSTR expression in urinary bladder PGL on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC scan and proposed that ¹³¹I MIBG may be more specific in urinary bladder PGL.[12] [13] PET/CT imaging with ¹⁸F-DOPA is currently the preferred functional modality for diagnosing abdominal and pelvic PGL.[14] However, ¹³¹I MIBG SPECT/CT remains an indispensable tool for tumor characterization of NET at centers, where PET facility is not available.

Bladder PGLs are difficult to distinguish from other bladder tumors on imaging[2] ^– thus, its diagnosis should be confirmed with histopathological examination and IHC. Histologically, they show Zellballen pattern, where tumor cells are arranged in nests, and have fibrovascular stroma and eosinophilic cytoplasm, which can also mimic high-grade urothelial carcinoma. In these tumors, if IHC is positive for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin but negative for cytokeratin, it confirms the diagnosis.[3] [4] [15]

For localized tumors, surgical resection is treatment of choice. Complete removal of tumor is confirmed by normalization of 24-hour urinary catecholamine levels done postsurgery.[2] [8] Bladder PGLs are mostly benign and approximately 10 to 20% can be malignant. High-risk features for malignant lesion include mitotic rate more than 3/30 high-power field, capsular invasion, large nest with central degeneration, spindle cell pattern, and positive SDHB mutation. For metastatic disease, complete cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection with or without chemoradiotherapy is the preferred treatment.[2] [4]

Conclusion

Bladder PGLs are very rare tumors, which can mimic urothelial neoplasms on cystoscopy, imaging, and histopathological examination. For optimal management of these tumors, and to avoid surgical misadventure due to erroneous diagnosis as urothelial neoplasm, a high clinical suspicion on laboratory findings and histopathology along with IHC evaluation are important. Conventional functional radionuclide imaging technique with ¹³¹I MIBG SPECT/CT has indispensable role not only in initial lesion characterization of urinary PGL as it has high positivity rate on MIBG, but it is also useful for follow-up of PGL, as it may have high recurrence rate.

Conflict of Interest

None declared.

Authors' Contribution

M.L.N. contributed to the concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature research, clinical studies, data acquisition, and manuscript preparation, editing, and review. T.S. contributed to the clinical studies. P.S., T.S., and H.V. contributed to the design, definition of intellectual content, literature research, data acquisition, and manuscript preparation, editing, and review. T.S. and M.L.N. are both guarantors for this paper.

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Publication History

Article published online:
25 August 2022