Acute pancreatitis associated with neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas.
BACKGROUND
Endocrine tumors are a less commonly known cause of acute pancreatitis. This report presents the case of a patient who have had acute pancreatitis secondary to a pancreatic endocrine neoplasm. The majority of the cases previously reported were non-functioning tumors and the pancreatitis tended to be mild. Moreover, the majority of the tumors were diagnosed in advanced stages, hindering curative treatment.


METHODS
A 31-year-old female patient presented with epigastric pain and a history of recurrent acute pancreatitis. Preoperative imaging investigation showed a dilation of the distal portion of the main pancreatic duct and intra-operative ultrasound demonstrated a mild stricture of the main pancreatic duct at the body of the pancreas. Frozen-section examination revealed a malignant neoplasm, subsequently identified as a neuroendocrine carcinoma, and a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. Acute pancreatitis was an early symptom in this patient who underwent a hopefully curative resection.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that, in patients with acute pancreatitis of unknown origin, the possibility of a non-functioning neuroendocrine tumor should be investigated.
Jukemura
José
J
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine. São Paulo, Brazil. jjukemura@yahoo.com.br
Montagnini
André Luis
AL
Perini
Marcos Vinícius
MV
de Almeida
José Luiz Jesus
JL
Rodrigues
Joaquim José Gama
JJ
da Cunha
José Eduardo Monteiro
JE
D000328:Adult; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology