Large cell carcinoma with calcitonin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-associated Verner-Morrison syndrome

Keith W. Pratz, Cynthia Ma, Marie Christine Aubry, Terri J. Vrtiska, Charles Erlichman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Verner-Morrison syndrome, characterized by diarrhea, hypokalemia, and hypochlorhydria, is caused most commonly by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-secreting islet cell tumors of the pancreas. Verner-Morrison syndrome has not been described as a paraneoplastic syndrome in non-small cell lung cancer. We describe a 38-year-old man with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer of large cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation who presented with bone metastasis and intractable secretory diarrhea that was unresponsive to pharmacological treatment, including octreotide. Laboratory evaluation indicated elevated serum calcitonin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels. Chemotherapy resulted in a transient response in the patient's diarrhea and neuroendocrine markers. The patient did not respond to further therapy and died 5 months after onset of back pain. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of large cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation associated with treatment-responsive paraneoplastic Verner-Morrison syndrome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)116-120
Number of pages5
JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings
Volume80
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

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