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Refractory hypoglycemia associated with giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (Doege–Potter syndrome)

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Summary

Background

The association of a solitary tumor of the pleura with paraneoplastic refractory hypoglycemia is a very rare clinical condition.

Methods

An 86-year-old gentleman with an incidentally discovered large mass in the left chest and a long-standing history of refractory hypoglycemia was referred for surgical consultation. Computed tomography and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan confirmed the presence of a homogeneous mass leaning on the left hemidiaphragm with no tracer uptake.

Results

After tumor board discussion, the mass was radically excised through a left thoracotomy. Histopathology revealed a benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. At 1‑year follow-up the patient was doing well and did not further complain of hypoglycemia-related symptoms.

Conclusion

Doege–Potter syndrome is a life-threatening condition associated with severely impaired quality of life. Prompt identification and surgical treatment are mandatory.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General and Foregut Surgery, University of Milan, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Piazza Malan 1, 20097, San Donato Milanese (Milano), Italy

    Carlo Alberto Manzo, Emanuele Asti, Caterina Froiio & Luigi Bonavina MD

  2. Pathology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy

    Barbara Bruni

Authors
  1. Carlo Alberto Manzo
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  2. Emanuele Asti
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  3. Caterina Froiio
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  4. Barbara Bruni
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  5. Luigi Bonavina MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luigi Bonavina MD.

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Conflict of interest

C. A. Manzo, E. Asti, C. Froiio, B. Bruni, and L. Bonavina declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants or on human tissue were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1975 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from the patient included in the study. Internal review board approval HSD 2020-071.

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Manzo, C.A., Asti, E., Froiio, C. et al. Refractory hypoglycemia associated with giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (Doege–Potter syndrome). Eur Surg 52, 296–299 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-020-00673-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-020-00673-w

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