Disseminated pancreatic polypeptidioma

Abstract

Pancreatic polypeptidioma, a pancreatic endocrine tumor, is an extremely uncommon disease and its clinical features and responses to therapy are not well known. We present a 33-year-old woman with disseminated pancreatic polypeptidioma, who subsequently showed various signs and symptoms of metastases, including bone pain, cranial nerve palsy, spinal block, and hematuria, and died 22 months after the presentation. Responses to various therapeutic regimens including hepatic arterial embolization, radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and administration of interferon-alpha or somatostatin analogue, are discussed. Particular note in this case is a prompt response of bone metastases to the radiotherapy.