Are pancreatic VIPomas paraneuron neoplasms? A clue to the neuroectodermal origin of these tumors.
Three pancreatic vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-producing tumors associated with the watery diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria syndrome were studied histologically, ultrastructurally, and immunocytochemically. All the tumors contained varying numbers of cells arranged in pseudoglandular structures. The cells showed a polar organization, with apical tuft of microvilli and basal VIP-containing, synaptic vesicle-like granules. Based on the morphology of the VIPoma cells typical of recepto-secretory cells, together with the ability to synthesize and release a peptide that in normal conditions is expressed exclusively by neurons, and the absence of VIP-producing endocrine cells in normal pancreas and gastrointestinal mucosa, the hypothesis is drawn that the pancreatic VIPomas reported here are paraneuron neoplasms, which possibly originate from neuroectodermal ancestors.
Bani Sacchi
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T
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Italy.
Bani
D
D
Biliotti
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G
D000328:Adult; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003969:Vipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*