Malignant endocrine tumor of the pancreas associated with high blood thyrocalcitonin levels
Doullay, F.; Bricot, R.; Dor, A.M.; Chayvialle, J.A.; Berger, F.; Conte-Devolx, B.
Presse Medicale 21(33): 1566-1568
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 1470613 Document Number: 398563
A case of thyrocalcitonin-secreting endocrine tumour of the pancreas is reported. Endocrine pancreatic tumours are neoplasias evolving over a long period; most of them are multisecreting, usually with a predominant secretion responsible for clinical symptoms. In this particular case the retrospective diagnosis of a thyrocalcitonin-secreting tumour of the pancreas was made by immunocytochemical study of the pancreatectomy specimen. One year after pancreatectomy, the persistence of clinical signs and a plasma thyrocalcitonin level higher than 25,000 pg/ml led to the discovery of a liver metastasis. An immunocytochemical study of the segmental hepatectomy specimen showed a single population of thyrocalcitonin-secreting cells identical with those found in the pancreatic tumour. In this context, radioimmunological assays of peptides and immunocytochemistry seem to be the best diagnostic methods.