Mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma-secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide causing secretory diarrhoea

In this case report we describe a case of mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma-secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), causing secretory diarrhoea in an 18-month-old child. An 18-month-old girl presented with a 2-month history of diarrhoea, abdominal distension and weight loss. Investigations rev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arab journal of gastroenterology 2011-06, Vol.12 (2), p.106-108
Main Authors: Husain, Khaled, Thomas, Elizabeth, Demerdash, Zeinab, Alexander, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diarrhea, Infantile - etiology
Female
Ganglioneuroblastoma - complications
Ganglioneuroblastoma - diagnostic imaging
Ganglioneuroblastoma - secretion
Ganglioneuroblastoma - surgery
Humans
Infant
Mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma
Mediastinal Neoplasms - complications
Mediastinal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Mediastinal Neoplasms - secretion
Mediastinal Neoplasms - surgery
Radiography
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - secretion
VIP
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Summary:In this case report we describe a case of mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma-secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), causing secretory diarrhoea in an 18-month-old child. An 18-month-old girl presented with a 2-month history of diarrhoea, abdominal distension and weight loss. Investigations revealed secretory diarrhoea with hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia and hypochloraemia and metabolic acidosis. Her stool output was 2.5–3.l day −1 with increased stool sodium. VIP levels were strikingly high with normal glucagon and gastrin levels. X-ray of the chest revealed a well-defined mass in the right upper zone with tracheal shift, which was confirmed with computed tomography (CT) of the chest. The mass was resected and the patient became asymptomatic. This case shows that secretory diarrhoea caused by VIP and produced by ganglioneuroblastoma indicates a favourable prognosis, provided it is resectable.
ISSN:1687-1979
2090-2387
DOI:10.1016/j.ajg.2010.10.006