Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours associated with hypercalcaemia.


ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypercalcaemia is a common paraneoplastic syndrome. In the context of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, it is occasionally caused by secretion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP). CASE OUTLINES: Two patients are reported in whom persistent hypercalcaemia was traced to a large neuroendocrine pancreatic tumour hypersecreting PTH-rP. Resection of the tumour reduced serum levels of calcium and PTH-rP transiently in each case until the patient developed bulky metastatic disease. A 33-year-old woman remained hypercalcaemic after the removal of all four hyperplastic parathyroid glands had rendered circulating parathormone levels undetectable. Radical distal pancreatectomy was followed over the next 4 years by operative debulking of liver metastases, multiple hepatic artery embolisations, octreotide injections and repeated admissions for intravenous fluid and biphosphonate therapy. A 41-year-old man presented with hypercalcaemia as well as features of somatostatinoma syndrome. Symptomatic improvement after radical distal pancreatectomy was short-lived, and hepatic artery embolisation failed to control his rapidly progressive disease. DISCUSSION: Malignant hypercalcaemia associated with a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumour hypersecreting PTH-rP is difficult to treat and can be life-threatening. Aggressive surgical treatment is recommended initially, while somatostatin analogues and hepatic artery embolisation are alternative therapeutic options for metastatic disease.

SUBMITTER: Papazachariou IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2020623 | biostudies-other | 2001

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC2884564 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC28367 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9235225 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC43929 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC10792172 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9178359 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4824717 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5790322 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10093484 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3874264 | biostudies-other