title: Metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of unknown primary presenting as acute pancreatitis.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors of unknown primary site are rare. Among all the tumors of unknown primary, neuroendocrine tumors account for less than 5% of such cases. They are identified by immunohistochemical staining which is strongly positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin, or electron microscopy identification of neurosecretory granules. We present a case of metastatic poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with no identifiable primary, presenting as acute pancreatitis, hypercalcemia, and disseminated bony metastasis. Such presentation has been rarely reported before. Although the nature of these tumors remains undefined, the diagnosis of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma identifies a potentially treatable subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Temple University Hospital, Episcopal Division, 100 E Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, USA. dharsk@tuhs.temple.edu
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Tej
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokroo
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*