Published in:
01-11-2013 | Clinical Practice: Clinical Vignettes
Putting the Pieces Together: Necrolytic Migratory Erythema and the Glucagonoma Syndrome
Authors:
Stephanie A. C. Halvorson, MD, Erin Gilbert, MD, R. Samuel Hopkins, MD, Helen Liu, MD, Charles Lopez, MD, PhD, Michael Chu, MD, Marie Martin, BA, Brett Sheppard, MD
Published in:
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|
Issue 11/2013
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Abstract
Glucagonomas are slow-growing, rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. They may present with paraneoplastic phenomena known together as the “glucagonoma syndrome.” A hallmark sign of this syndrome is a rash known as necrolytic migratory erythema (NME). In this paper, the authors describe a patient with NME and other features of the glucagonoma syndrome. The diagnosis of this rare tumor requires an elevated serum glucagon level and imaging confirming a pancreatic tumor. Surgical and medical treatment options are reviewed. When detected early, a glucagonoma is surgically curable. It is therefore imperative that clinicians recognize the glucagonoma syndrome in order to make an accurate diagnosis and refer for treatment.