Pancreatic lesions in von Hippel-Lindau disease.
OBJECTIVE
Von Hippel-Lindau disease is an inherited neoplasia syndrome. The main endocrine manifestations are phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma. The presence of pancreatic disease has also been variably reported. This study was undertaken to describe the prevalence, nature, natural history and clinical associations of pancreatic lesions in von Hippel-Lindau disease.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the case notes of 17 consecutive patients. Average duration of follow-up was 5.5 years. Clinical, biochemical, genetic and radiological testing was routinely performed.


RESULTS
Eleven (64.7%) patients had pancreatic lesions either on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Serous microcystic adenomas and multiple cysts were the commonest findings, but solid lesions were also found. The commonest clinical association was diabetes mellitus in patients with extensive serous microcystic adenomas. None of the pancreatic lesions showed evidence of biochemical function. All patients with pancreatic lesions also had renal lesions. Mutations were found at several points in the gene and there was no apparent association between pancreatic lesions and a particular mutation.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic lesions are very common in von Hippel-Lindau disease and all patients had coexisting renal lesions. The main clinical correlate was diabetes mellitus, but otherwise the lesions were clinically and biochemically silent.
Mukhopadhyay
B
B
Departments of Endocrinology and Radiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK.
Sahdev
A
A
Monson
J P
JP
Besser
G M
GM
Reznek
R H
RH
Chew
S L
SL
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D006623:von Hippel-Lindau Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*