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Pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia causing watery diarrhea syndrome: a case report
1Department of Surgery, University of Calgary. pasieka@acs.ucalgary.ca
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien De Chirurgie
|March 11, 1999
Summary
Pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia can cause watery diarrhea syndrome. Surgical resection offers a successful treatment, as demonstrated in this first reported case with a two-year follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the pancreas secrete various peptides, causing distinct clinical syndromes.
- Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) hypersecretion is a rare cause of NET-related symptoms, often considered biologically inert.
- Watery diarrhea syndrome is a recognized clinical manifestation of peptide-secreting pancreatic NETs.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old woman presented with watery diarrhea syndrome attributed to pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia.
- This condition is exceptionally rare, with only two prior cases documented in medical literature.
- The patient's hyperplastic pancreatic polypeptide cells led to significant peptide overproduction.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of successful surgical management for pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia.
- The patient experienced complete resolution of watery diarrhea syndrome post-resection.
- A two-year follow-up confirmed the sustained efficacy of the surgical intervention.
Implications:
- Pancreatic polypeptide hypersecretion should be recognized as a potential cause of clinical endocrinopathy.
- Surgical resection is a viable and effective treatment option for symptomatic pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia.
- This case expands the understanding of NETs and their diverse clinical presentations, highlighting PP's potential role in endocrinopathies.