In:
American Journal of Gastroenterology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 114, No. 1 ( 2019-10), p. S780-S781
Abstract:
VIPomas are neuroendocrine neoplasms arising from the pancreas in 90% of the cases reported, while the remaining 10% occur in other tissues of neural crest origin. The symptoms found are secondary to an excessive secretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) including profuse watery diarrhea, dehydration, hypokalemia and hypoclorhydria. VIPomas are classically slow-growing, and previously reported cases consistently describe chronic diarrhea and a slowly progressing constellation of associated symptoms. We present a case of acute onset of secretory diarrhea secondary to a VIPoma. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: The patient is a 62 y/o F with PMHx of HTN who presented to the ED w/complaints of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting for approximately 3 days. Patient reported she was having 5-6 episodes of large volume, pale colored diarrhea. She denied any weight loss, change in diet, recent travel, blood in the stool, foul smell or bulky stool. She was initially found to be hypotensive BP 85/45, MAP 58, HR 88. Labs revealed K+ 3.1 meq/L, HCO3 was 16 meq/L, she had an AGMA measured at 15, and AKI with BUN: Cr 52:3.60 mg/dl respectively. On exam of the stool she was noted to have a stool osmolar gap of -14. Given no obvious underlying cause for these findings she underwent CT A/P which revealed a 7.8 × 6 cm mass contiguous w/both body/tail of the pancreas and posterior wall of the stomach, with no other sites of metastasis. EUS/FNA was done and pathology returned as NET type 1. VIP levels were subsequently sent and were elevated at 1385.8 pg/mL. She was started on octreotide 50 mcg TID with significant improvement in her diarrhea. She underwent surgery with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Pathology confirmed the presence of a grade 2, stage T3 well differentiated NET. She had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home. She continues to be asymptomatic several weeks after surgery. DISCUSSION: Pancreatic VIPoma was first described in 1958 by Verner and Morrison in a patient with chronic refractory diarrhea and hypokalemia. VIPoma is very rare with an estimated incidence of 0.05-0.2 cases per million people. Acute diarrhea resulting from a VIPoma is rare event in an already rare malignancy. Our patient presented with acute secretory diarrhea proven by a stool osmolar gap less than 50, which resulted in acute kidney injury. Her diarrhea, secondary to VIPoma responded well to octreotide. VIPomas are classically rare tumors, but our specific case presents an even more rare presentation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0002-9270
,
1572-0241
DOI:
10.14309/01.ajg.0000595160.54499.66
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2019
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