Glucagonoma syndrome: survival 21 years with concurrent liver metastases

Am J Med Sci. 2007 Sep;334(3):225-7. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e318141ff0b.

Abstract

A patient who survived for 21 years since initial discovery of glucagonoma with concurrent liver metastases is described. Psychiatric symptoms, weight loss, necrolytic migratory erythema, diarrhea, and diabetes mellitus developed gradually after diagnosis of the tumor. No specific treatment was administered. The longevity of this patient may be related to the slow tumor growth expressed histologically by ischemic necrosis of the malignant cells and in imaging by extensive tumor calcifications, a very rare finding in this type of the tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glucagonoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome