VIPoma

Also known as pancreatic cholera, Verner Morrison syndrome, Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide producing tumor, Pancreatic endocrine tumor

They are extremely rare cancerous tumors associated with excessive secretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide leading to:

Physiological actions of VIP include relaxation of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscles and escalation of gut secretions. Other important VIP effects include stimulation of alkaline pancreatic juice secretion and lipolysis and glycogenolysis, and inhibition of histamine release and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion.

VIPomas are usually diagnosed in adulthood, most commonly at age 50 or so. Women are more likely to be affected than men. (Sure women are VIPs!!)

Other symptoms include nausea, dehydration, abdominal pain and cramping, weight loss, facial flushing or redness.

Tests:

High levels of Vasoactive intestinal peptide in the blood

Large volumes of diarrhea which continues despite fasting

Stool test to determine electrolyte content & absence of WBCs

CT or MRI to determine the location of tumor

Treatment

Treat dehydration first by giving intravenous fluids to replace fluids lost in diarrhea.

Then slow the diarrhea by giving some medications which can control diarrhea such as octreotide.

Surgery is curative if tumor has not metastasized.

Complications

Metastasis

Dehydration

Cardiac arrhythmias & Cardiac arrest due to electrolyte disturbances