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Diarrhea associated with pancreatic islet-cell tumors

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Summary

1. Two cases of noninsulin-secreting pancreatic islet-cell tumors presenting as severe diarrhea are reported. The first patient had steatorrhea and marked gastric hypersecretion, but no ulcer. Removal of the tumor was followed by normalization of gastric secretion and disappearance of steatorrhea. The second patient had profuse, watery diarrhea with severe fluid and electrolyte depletion. He was achlorhydric. Resection of the tumor completely relieved the diarrhea, but the patient later succumbed to pancreatic necrosis.

2. On the basis of this personal experience and of a review of 45 cases described in the literature, it appears (1) that pancreatic islet-cell tumors are often responsible for diarrhea; (2) that this effect is mediated via gastric hypersecretion in a majority of instances; and (3) that stimulation of intestinal secretions is a probable mechanism in the few patients with low gastric secretion or anacidity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Sacred Heart Hospital, Roeselaere, Belgium

    Julien Deleu M.D. & Hendrik Tytgat M.D.

  2. Firmin Desloge Hospital, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.

    Guy E. Van Goidsenhoven M.D.

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  1. Julien Deleu M.D.
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  2. Hendrik Tytgat M.D.
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  3. Guy E. Van Goidsenhoven M.D.
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Deleu, J., Tytgat, H. & Van Goidsenhoven, G.E. Diarrhea associated with pancreatic islet-cell tumors. Digest Dis Sci 9, 97–108 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02243513

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