Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide secreting pancreatic tumour with hepatic metastases: long term survival after orthotopic liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
VIPomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours, with metastases often confined to the liver. Orthotopic liver transplantation may be considered in patients with metastases confined to the liver, however the long term benefits have yet to be shown.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss the role of orthotopic liver transplantation for neuroendocrine tumours including VIPomas.


METHODS
We describe the case of a very rare pancreatic VIPoma, the therapeutic modalities employed, including orthotopic liver transplantation, and present the results of a relevant literature search.


RESULTS
This case is the longest (25 years) reported in the literature for survival from a VIPoma after initial diagnosis and long term survival after liver transplantation (9 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Liver transplantation for metastatic VIPomas confined to the liver may be justified in selected patients to provide symptomatic hormonal control and pain from tumour bulk, provided there is no extra hepatic disease and medical treatment has been exhausted.
Johnston
P C
PC
Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT 12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK.
Ardill
J E
JE
Johnston
B T
BT
Mc Cance
D R
DR
D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D003969:Vipoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide