Ectopic insulin production by a primary ovarian carcinoid.
An insulin-containing ovarian carcinoid was found at the autopsy of a 63-year-old woman with a 12-year history of episodic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. In terms of histology, the carcinoid displayed both insular and trabecular patterns and contained a small focus of mucinous cystadenoma. Beta secretory granules were demonstrated by electron microscopy, and immunoreactivity for insulin was demonstrated in tumor cell cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry. Additional autopsy findings included a solitary parathyroid adenoma and a microscopic focus of pituitary hyperplasia. This is the first recorded case of insulin production by a primary ovarian neoplasm. The patient's constellation of endocrine findings may represent a variant of the syndrome of type I multiple endocrine neoplasia.
Morgello
S
S
Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY 10021.
Schwartz
E
E
Horwith
M
M
King
M E
ME
Gorden
P
P
Alonso
D R
DR
D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D007328:Insulin