Calcitonin-secreting tumor of the pancreas.
Pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) are unusual tumors arising from cells belonging generically to the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation systems. We present a case of a calcitonin-secreting PET in a 56-year-old female who presented with watery diarrhea, dehydration and hypokalemia. Investigation revealed hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcitonemia and a well-defined mass in the head of the pancreas on CT scan. Following a pancreaticoduodenectomy her serum calcitonin levels returned to normal and diarrhea disappeared. The identification of this particularly rare presentation of a calcitonin-secreting PET provides the opportunity to examine this pathological entity within the context of the very few previously reported instances of this disease.
Mullerpatan
Prashant M
PM
Department of Surgical Oncology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra(W), Mumbai 400 050, India.
Joshi
Shashank R
SR
Shah
Rajiv C
RC
Tampi
Chandralekha S
CS
Doctor
Vatsala M
VM
Jagannath
Palepu
P
Modlin
Irvin
I
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002116:Calcitonin