Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report
Authors:
Elena Parlagreco,
Irene Persano,
Anna La Salvia,
Anna Pia,
Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti,
Maria Pia Brizzi
Background: Glucagonoma is a rare functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) is a paraneoplastic manifestation of glucagonoma and is often the first presenting symptom. The misdiagnosis of this rare entity can affect the patients quality of life and his life expectancy. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 48-year-old man presenting with pruritic scaly rash, ulcerated skin lesions, and periorbital edema, who was diagnosed and treated for atopic eczema for a 7-year period. Despite treatment, his dermatitis and general conditions progressively worsened, until he was admitted to the emergency department due to weight loss and fatigue. An uncontrolled diabetes was found and the computer tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a tumor located in the tail of the pancreas with liver metastases. Subsequently, liver biopsy and high levels of glucagon confirmed the diagnosis of glucagonoma. The patient was treated with short-acting subcutaneous octreotide for 2 weeks and then with intramuscular slowrelease octreotide every 28 days, with a significant improvement of the symptoms. Conclusion: This case provides further knowledge about NME, since a timely recognition and treatment of this misleading disease can prevent morbidity from the dermatitis and mortality from the malignancy itself.
Keywords: Glucagonoma, neuroendocrine tumors, glucagonoma syndrome, necrolytic migratory erythema (NME), quality of life, dupilumab, somatostatin analogs (SSA).
Authors
Anna Pia
Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, Internal Medicine, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy
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Pubmed Articles
Correspondence to:
Irene Persano, Department of Oncology, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy irenepersano@gmail.com
Publication history:
Received 26 Nov 2020
Revised 12 Mar 2021
Accepted 18 Mar 2021
Published online 30 Mar 2021
Published in print 30 Apr 2021
Parlagreco E, Persano I, Salvia AL, Pia A, Scagliotti GV, Brizzi MP. Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. EJMCR. 2021; 5(4): 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco E, Persano I, Salvia AL, Pia A, Scagliotti GV, Brizzi MP. Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=12546 [Access: September 14, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco E, Persano I, Salvia AL, Pia A, Scagliotti GV, Brizzi MP. Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. EJMCR. 2021; 5(4): 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco E, Persano I, Salvia AL, Pia A, Scagliotti GV, Brizzi MP. Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. EJMCR. (2021), [cited September 14, 2024]; 5(4): 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco, E., Persano, . I., Salvia, . A. L., Pia, . A., Scagliotti, . G. V. & Brizzi, . M. P. (2021) Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. EJMCR, 5 (4), 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco, Elena, Irene Persano, Anna La Salvia, Anna Pia, Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti, and Maria Pia Brizzi. 2021. Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 5 (4), 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco, Elena, Irene Persano, Anna La Salvia, Anna Pia, Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti, and Maria Pia Brizzi. "Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 5 (2021), 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco, Elena, Irene Persano, Anna La Salvia, Anna Pia, Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti, and Maria Pia Brizzi. "Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 5.4 (2021), 117-121. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831
Parlagreco, E., Persano, . I., Salvia, . A. L., Pia, . A., Scagliotti, . G. V. & Brizzi, . M. P. (2021) Glucagonoma: how the misdiagnosis of a paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestation affects the clinical outcome: a case report. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 5 (4), 117-121. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1606402831