Glucagonoma: Evolución y tratamiento

Glucagonomas are alpha pancreatic islet cell tumors that, when they are active, produce a syndrome characterized by necrolytic migratory erythema, diabetes mellitus, weight loss, anemia, glossitis, thromboembolism, neuropsychiatric disturbances and hyperglucagonemia. We report a 43 years old male presenting with a five years history of dermatological lesions, associated with weight loss, glossitis and onicodystrophy. Serum glucagon was 2200 pg/ml and a CAT scan showed a tumor in the tail of the pancreas. The tumor was surgically excised but one year later, hepatic metastases were found. These were excised surgically, treated with long acting octeotride and finally treated with radiotherapy using Y-DOTATOC. In the last control in November, 2001, the patient is asymptomatic (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 671-676