A mixed endocrine adrenal tumour causing steatorrhoea

• A 60 year old man developed steatorrhoea, weight loss, mild diabetes mellitus, labile hypertension and limb cramps. Raised plasma concentrations of catecholamines, particularly noradrenaline and a computed tomography-scan showing an adrenal tumour strongly suggested a pheochromocytoma. Adrenoreceptor blockade reversed the symptoms, decreased faecal fat, and increased duodenal trypsin to normal concentrations. After adrenalectomy the patient was asymptomatic and there was no steatorrhoea. The blood glucose concentrations became normal. Immunocytochemistry revealed the tumour cells to store large amounts of enkephalin and somatostatin reactive material and moderate amounts of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and dynorphin.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/complications

Celiac Disease/etiology

Endorphins/metabolism

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Norepinephrine/metabolism

Pheochromocytoma/complications

Somatostatin/metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)