Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) secreting tumour of the pancreas

A 51-year-old woman with a history of several years' watery diarrhoea caused by a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) secreting tumour of the pancreas (VIPoma) is presented. Measured stool outputs ranged from 1000 to 2600 ml/24 h. S-K 2.5 mmol/I. The pancreatic VIPoma was localised by abdominal angiography and removed. The plasma concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide was 80 pmol/l before and 5 pmol/I after the operation (normal under 30 pmol/I). The patient has been symptom-free for 15 months since surgery.