Metastatic vipoma arising from colonic primary tumour

We describe a case of a tumour of the sigmoid colon with hepatic metastases in a patient with previously documented ulcerative colitis. A diagnosis of metastatic vipoma was made on the basis of high plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Profuse diarrhoea and profound metabolic upset were corrected by the use of a somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995, whilst conventional cytotoxic therapy produced a significant tumour response with return of the plasma VIP level to normal.