A Functional Study of a Case of Glucagonoma Exhibiting Typical Glucagonoma Syndrome
February 1986
in “
Cancer
”
Studysummary In this case study, a man with necrolytic migratory erythema and a glucagonoma experienced decreased plasma glucagon levels and reduced metastases after treatment with dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide.
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The study focused on a 46-year-old man with a 7-year history of necrolytic migratory erythema, weight loss, abnormal glucose tolerance, anemia, glossitis, hair loss, and hypoproteinemia, all indicative of glucagonoma syndrome. The patient exhibited significantly elevated fasting plasma glucagon levels, which increased further with glucose, meals, and arginine, but decreased with somatostatin and insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Imaging revealed a large pancreatic tumor with metastases, confirmed as glucagonoma post-surgery. Despite tumor resection, high glucagon levels persisted, leading to chemotherapy with dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide, which reduced glucagon levels and tumor size.
