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Glucagonoma syndrome: a case report
Pablo Granero Castro1, Alberto Miyar de León, Jose Granero Trancón
1Department of General Surgery and Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. pgranerocastro@aecirujanos.es.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|August 24, 2011
Summary
Glucagonoma syndrome, a rare condition, presents with distinctive skin rashes and other symptoms due to a pancreatic tumor. Early diagnosis and surgical resection offer the only potential cure for this rare disease.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Glucagonoma syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic phenomenon associated with glucagon-producing pancreatic alpha-cell tumors.
- It presents with a constellation of symptoms including necrolytic migratory erythema, hyperglucagonemia, diabetes mellitus, anemia, weight loss, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Necrolytic migratory erythema is often the initial and most recognizable manifestation, highlighting the importance of early suspicion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of glucagonoma syndrome.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing unusual initial manifestations for timely diagnosis and treatment.
- To highlight surgical resection as a curative treatment option.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 70-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with glucagonoma syndrome.
- The patient had an alpha-cell tumor located in the pancreatic tail.
- Treatment involved successful surgical resection of the tumor.
Main Results:
- The patient with glucagonoma syndrome was successfully treated with surgical resection.
- Complete surgical removal of the glucagon-producing tumor led to resolution of the syndrome.
- This case underscores the curable nature of glucagonoma with early intervention.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for glucagonoma syndrome, even with atypical presentations.
- Early and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management.
- Complete surgical resection of the pancreatic tumor offers the only chance for a cure.
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