Ventricular fibrillation resulting from electrolyte imbalance reveals vipoma in MEN1 syndrome

An Insight on Functioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are rare neoplasms arising from islets of the Langerhans in the pancreas. They can be divided into two groups, based on peptide hormone secretion, functioning and nonfunctioning PanNENs. The first group is characterized by different secreted peptides causing specific syndromes and is further classified into subgroups: insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, somatostatinoma, VIPoma and tumors producing serotonin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone. Conversely, the second group does not release peptides and is usually associated with a worse prognosis. Today, although the efforts to improve the therapeutic approaches, surgery remains the only curative treatment for patients with PanNENs. The development of high-throughput techniques has increased the molecular knowledge of PanNENs, thereby allowing us to understand better the molecular biology and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities of PanNENs. Although enormous advancements in therapeutic and molecular aspects of PanNENs have been achieved, there is poor knowledge about each subgroup of functioning PanNENs.Therefore, we believe that combining high-throughput platforms with new diagnostic tools will allow for the efficient characterization of the main differences among the subgroups of functioning PanNENs. In this narrative review, we summarize the current landscape regarding diagnosis, molecular profiling and treatment, and we discuss the future perspectives of functioning PanNENs.

Treatment options of metastatic and nonmetastatic VIPoma: a review

PURPOSE

VIPoma belongs to the group of neuroendocrine neoplasms. These tumours are located mostly in the pancreas and produce high levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In most cases, a metastatic state has already been reached at the initial diagnosis, with high levels of VIP leading to a wide spectrum of presenting symptoms. These symptoms include intense diarrhoea and subsequent hypopotassaemia but also cardiac complications, with life-threatening consequences. Treatment options include symptomatic therapy, systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapy, as well as radiation and surgery. Due to the low incidence of VIPoma, there are no prospective studies or evidence-based therapeutic standards to date.

METHODS

To evaluate the possible impact of different therapy strategies, we performed literature research using PubMed.

RESULTS

All possible treatment modalities for VIPoma have at least one of two therapy goals: antisecretory effects (symptom control) and antitumoural effects (tumour burden reduction). Symptomatic therapy is the most important in the emergency setting to rehydrate, balance electrolytes and stabilise the patient. Symptomatic therapy is also of great importance perioperatively. Somatostatin analogues play a major role in symptom control, although their efficiency is often limited. Chemotherapy may be effective in reaching stable disease for a certain time period, although its impact on symptom control is limited and often delayed. Among targeted therapy options, the usage of sunitinib appears to be the most effective in terms of symptom control and showing antitumoural effects at the same time. Experience with radiation is still limited; however, local ablative procedures seem to be promising options. Peptide receptor radiotherapy (PRRT) with radiolabelled somatostatin analogues (SSAs, 177Lu-DOTATATE) offers a targeted approach, especially in patients with high somatostatin receptor density. Surgery is the first-line therapy for nonmetastatic VIPoma. Additionally, if the resection of all visible tumour lesions is possible, the surgical approach seems preferable to other strategies in highly symptomatic patients. The role of surgery in very advanced stages where only tumour debulking is possible remains debatable. However, a high rate of immediate symptom control can be achieved by tumour debulking followed by somatostatin therapy, although the impact on survival remains unclear.

CONCLUSION

Surgery is the only curative option for nonmetastatic VIPoma. Additionally, surgery should be a first-line therapy option for highly symptomatic patients, especially if the resection of all tumour lesions (primary tumour and metastasis) is achievable. In frail patients, other modalities can be used.

Endocrine Disorders with Parathyroid Hormone-Independent Hypercalcemia

The most common causes of hypercalcemia are primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy, constituting 80% to 90% of all cases. Although less common, several nonparathyroid endocrine disorders are associated with hypercalcemia. The most well described is hyperthyroidism, although the reported prevalence of hypercalcemia in hyperthyroid patients varies depending on applied method for measuring serum calcium levels. Also, adrenal insufficiency, pheochromocytoma, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are associated with hypercalcemia. These are differential diagnoses when assessing the hypercalcemic patient for whom common causes have been excluded. Further investigation is needed regarding hypothyroidism; acromegaly, hyperprolactinemia, gonadal dysfunction, and diabetes are not associated with hyperthyroidism.

Prevalence of Diagnostic Methods and Treatment Modalities in Vipoma Patients: A Rare Cause of Hormone-Mediated Diarrhea

INTRODUCTION

VIPoma is a neuroendocrine tumor that secrets vasoactive intestinal peptide and produces a well-defined clinical syndrome characterized by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, hypochlorhydria and metabolic acidosis. The aim of this study to investigate clinical studies about diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of vipoma patients. In this retrospective study, all patients of vipoma were investigated. Clinical features, laboratory data at initial presentation, management and outcomes were collected.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The paper has written based on searching PubMed and Google Scholar to identify potentially relevant articles or abstracts. Categorical variables as percentage and continuous variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

RESULTS

All the patients presented with watery diarrhea (30/30, 100%) and dehydration was reported in 33.3% of them. Prevalence of laboratory findings in these patients were assessed for hypokalaemia (25/30, 83.3%), metabolic acidosis (9/30, 33.6%), hypochloremia and achlorhydria (2/30, 6.6%). Elevated VIP levels have been seen in 73.3% patients with mean values of 882.85 ± 1134.87 pg/ml. Prevalence of diagnostic methods included CT scan in 19 patients (19/30, 63.3%), ultrasonography (15/50, 50%), and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (8/30, 26.6%). Medical treatments included somatostatin and analogues in 18 patients (18/30, 60%). Surgery included less percentage of treatment in these patients.

CONCLUSION

CT scan can be used as a reliable modality for diagnosis of vipoma and somatostatin analogues can be used as the most effective treatment in vipoma patients. Surveillance of these patients needs to close monitoring of patients via history, physical examination, laboratory and imaging.

Paediatric VIPoma: A Jamboree of Electrolytes

Vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumour (VIPoma) is a rare type of neuroendocrine tumour (NET), primarily located in the tail of pancreas. This type of tumour presents with myriad of metabolic and electrolyte misbalances in the preoperative period, mainly due to increased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels. Perioperative management of patients with VIPoma is challenging, especially when dealing with paediatric patients. The anaesthetic management of a two-year-old girl who was selected for VIPoma resection is hereby presented.