Primary Functioning Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Appendix with Hypoglycemia Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Neuroendocrine Tumors.

DISCUSSION: A literature review demonstrates no other case series or reports of a primary hyperfunctioning NET of the appendix presenting with hypoglycemic crisis. The symptoms of tumor-induced hypoglycemia more typically arise with islet cell tumors, such as pancreatic NETs or insulinomas. We believe this case represents a nonislet cell tumor-induced hypoglycemia. This patient's elevated serum proinsulin level preoperatively implies secretion of proinsulin by the tumor. However, tumor-induced hypoglycemia caused by proinsulin has been described previously only in pancreatic tumors. This unique case adds knowledge to the possible glycemic endocrine effects of nonpancreatic NETs, specifically those that arise primarily in the appendix. PMID: 32240090 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Permanente journal - Category: General Medicine Tags: Perm J Source Type: research