Peptide-secreting tumours with special reference to the pancreas

[The Verner-Morrison syndrome. The clinical picture and pathologic anatomy]

The Verner-Morrison Syndrome is a clinically defined entity caused by an islet cell tumor of the pancreas. More than 60 cases have been described so long. The syndrome is characterized by diarrhea, hypokalemia and hypochlorhydria. In addition to a diabetic disposition, raised calcium levels and skin alterations may be present. The diagnosis is a clinical one. A pancreatic tumor should be searched for and removed. Morphologically a benign and a maligne islet cell tumor or a diffuse hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans can be found. Until now identification of the tumor cells has not been possible. There seems no doubt that the tumor cells produce a peptide hormone. Secretin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and combinations of hormones are discussed. The results are contradictory. Theories concerning the formal and causal pathogenesis are only incomplete and unproved up to now.

Two types of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: immunofluorescent, cytochemical and ultrastructural studies of the antral and pancreatic gastrin cells in different clinical states

In this survey the antral, pancreatic and, where present, the neoplastic gastrin cells, were studied in eight cases of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The antral G cells alone were studied in one case of Z-E syndrome, seven cases of simple duodenal ulcer, and five cases of pernicious anaemia. The Z-E cases were divided into two numerically equal groups. The first group had ;short' histories, high serum gastrin levels, and profound antral G cell hyperplasia. The second group had ;long' histories, relatively lower serum gastrin levels, normal antral G cells, and either pancreatic D cell hyperplasia or gastrinoma. Antral G cell hyperplasia, with maximal gastrin storage and normal serum gastrin levels, was found in the duodenal ulcer cases. Antral G cell hyperplasia with minimal storage and high serum gastrin levels was observed in the cases of pernicious anaemia. On the basis of our findings we propose that there exist at least two distinct types (or perhaps stages) of the Z-E syndrome. Suggestions for their pathogenesis are offered.

A case of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome associated with hyperplasia of salivary and Brunner's glands

A case is reported showing enlargement of the salivary gland with hypersecretion and Brunner's gland hyperplasia in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Gastric hypersecretion and diarrhoea were prominent, but there was no peptic ulceration.

Serum gastrin levels in malignant Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome after total gastrectomy and hypophysectomy

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Two cases of "pancreatic cholera" with features of peptide-secreting adenomatosis of the pancreas

The clinical data are presented of two women with profound metabolic upset from exceptional water and electrolyte losses in diarrhoea. One had an islet-cell adenoma of the pancreas and the other abnormal islets. Gastric and pancreatic function were abnormal in both, consistent with the subsequent demonstration of a pancreatic and choleretic secretagogue in the tumour tissue and pancreatic and gastric secretagogues in circulating blood (Cleator, Thomson, Sircus, and Coombes, 1970).

Bio-assay evidence of abnormal secretin-like and gastrin-like activity in tumour and blood in cases of "choleraic diarrhoea"

Methods for bio-assay of secretin-like humoral agents in both cat and dog are described. Bio-assay of tumour extracts and of plasma from patients with the pancreatic choleraic syndrome are described. The first patient was found to have choleretic and secretinlike activity in an extract of her pancreatic islet cell tumour and gastrin-like activity in her plasma. The second patient was found to have both secretin and gastrin-like activity in her plasma, as well as choleretic activity. It is concluded that at least part of the profuse, watery electrolyte diarrhoea of the ;pancreatic cholera' syndrome associated with peptide-secreting adenoma of the pancreas is likely to be a reflection of the excessive production of secretin, as well as of gastrin, and possibly also of a choleretic agent.