Putting the Pieces Together: Necrolytic Migratory Erythema and the Glucagonoma Syndrome

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 wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM 2013-11, Vol.28 (11), p.1525-1529
Main Authors: Halvorson, Stephanie A. C., Gilbert, Erin, Hopkins, R. Samuel, Liu, Helen, Lopez, Charles, Chu, Michael, Martin, Marie, Sheppard, Brett
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Practice: Clinical Vignettes
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
General aspects
Glucagonoma - blood
Glucagonoma - complications
Glucagonoma - diagnosis
Humans
Internal Medicine
Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas
Medical diagnosis
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Necrolytic Migratory Erythema - blood
Necrolytic Migratory Erythema - complications
Necrolytic Migratory Erythema - diagnosis
Pancreas
Pancreatic Neoplasms - blood
Pancreatic Neoplasms - complications
Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnosis
Skin diseases
Tumors
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0884-8734
1525-1497
DOI:10.1007/s11606-013-2490-5