Hypercalcitoninemia in a sporadic asymptomatic neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic tail

Abstract

Background/aim: Asymptomatic neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic tract represent a significant challenge in terms of postoperative monitoring.

Methods: A case report of a calcitonin-secreting asymptomatic neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic tail is presented.

Results: Hypercalcitoninemia was noted in the 76-year-old Caucasian man who had a recurrent neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic tail. Upon pentagastrin stimulation, basal calcitonin increased only moderately from 82.3 (<10) to 100.9 and 125 pg/ml after 2 and 5 min, respectively. Surgical removal of the neuroendocrine tumor resulted in postoperative normalization of both basal and stimulated serum calcitonin levels. On immunohistochemistry, the neuroendocrine tumor was positive for calcitonin.

Conclusion: Routine measurements of serum calcitonin might be a highly sensitive adjunct capable of identifying a subset of neuroendocrine tumors in which calcitonin monitoring may aid in the early detection of postoperative recurrence.