Nasal neuroblastoma secreting vasopressin. A case report

A patient with a nasal neuroblastoma was found to have hypertension and severe hyponatraemia. Radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy were ineffective in reducing the size and vascularity of the neoplasm. Assay of tumor tissue post mortem revealed high levels of arginine vasopressin. The possibility of vasopressin formation to be added to the better known potential hormonal secretory activities of neuroblastomas.