Pancreatic islet-cell neoplasia, with secretion of a parathormone-like substance and hypercalcemia

In a 47-year-old woman with a pancreatic mass associated with hypercalcemia and mental confusion, medical measures failed to restore her serum calcium level to normal. To do so, radical resection of a locally invasive vascular neoplasm arising from the body and tail of the pancreas was necessary. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCanadian journal of surgery Vol. 30; no. 2; p. 108
Main Authors Vair, D B, Boudreau, S F, Reid, E L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Canada 01.03.1987
Subjects
Adenoma, Islet Cell - complications
Adenoma, Islet Cell - secretion
Female
Humans
Hypercalcemia - etiology
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms - complications
Pancreatic Neoplasms - secretion
Parathyroid Hormone - secretion
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Summary:In a 47-year-old woman with a pancreatic mass associated with hypercalcemia and mental confusion, medical measures failed to restore her serum calcium level to normal. To do so, radical resection of a locally invasive vascular neoplasm arising from the body and tail of the pancreas was necessary. The neoplasm was a pancreatic islet-cell tumour. Serum parathormone assays demonstrated abnormally high secretion of a parathormone-like substance. Ectopic secretion of such substances from islet-cell tumours should be considered in association with refractory metabolic disturbances. In view of the often indolent clinical course of islet-cell tumours and the potential for life-threatening hormonal effects, biopsy confirmation of adenocarcinoma should be obtained before resorting to palliative surgical management of pancreatic neoplasms.
ISSN:0008-428X