A Case of Profound Secretory Diarrhea Revealing 2 Primary Neuroendocrine Tumors

ACG Case Rep J. 2021 Jul 8;8(7):e00625. doi: 10.14309/crj.0000000000000625. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are unusual neoplasms with a diverse spectrum of clinical presentations. There is a lack of literature on cases of 2 primary histologically distinct NETs. We report a case of a 40-year-old man who presented with chronic diarrhea. A colonoscopy was performed which discovered a rectal polyp, with pathology showing a well-differentiated NET. A subsequent somatostatin scan revealed a pancreatic tail mass. Biopsy showed a histologically distinct well-differentiated vasoactive intestinal peptide-producing NET. Given that pancreatic and rectal NETs come from different embryonic origins, the diagnosis of 2 primary NETs presents a unique case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports