BOF: 55
A 67-year-old female presents with a swollen right leg.
She gives a history of weight loss and also says she has had a rash over her
buttocks.
On examination you note that her right calf is swollen,
erythematous, warm, tense and tender. Over her buttocks you note an
erythematous necrolytic rash.
Investigations
Hb 8.9 g/dL
WBC 11 x109 /L
Platelets 240
Glucose 14 mmol/L
In this patient which one of the following investigations
is most likely to show the primary lesion?
a)
Gastroscopy and distal duodenal biopsy
b)
Colonoscopy and terminal ileal biopsy
c)
Endoscopic ultrasound
d)
Barium follow through
e)
White cell scan
Answer: c)
Glucagonoma causes diabetes mellitus, weight loss, deep
vein thrombosis, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and migratory necrolytic dermatitis
it is difficult to image by CT and MRI
Octreotide scanning and endoscopic ultrasound are used to
detect tumours
Revision Tip
Revise neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas
KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine page 305-306
