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Ectopic insulin production by a primary ovarian carcinoid
Author(s) -
Morgello Susan,
Schwartz Ernest,
Horwith Melvin,
King Mary E.,
Gorden Phillip,
Alonso Daniel R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19880215)61:4<800::aid-cncr2820610426>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - medicine , pathology , multiple endocrine neoplasia , hypoglycemia , endocrine system , insulin , mucinous cystadenoma , autopsy , carcinoid tumour , pancreas , endocrinology , hormone , biology , biochemistry , gene
An insulin‐containing ovarian carcinoid was found at the autopsy of a 63‐year‐old woman with a 12‐year history of episodic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. In terms of histology, the carcinoid displayed both insular and trabecular patterns and contained a small focus of mucinous cystadenoma. Beta secretory granules were demonstrated by electron microscopy, and immunoreactivity for insulin was demonstrated in tumor cell cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry. Additional autopsy findings included a solitary parathyroid adenoma and a microscopic focus of pituitary hyperplasia. This is the first recorded case of insulin production by a primary ovarian neoplasm. The patient's constellation of endocrine findings may represent a variant of the syndrome of type I multiple endocrine neoplasia.