Document Detail


Successful palliation with octreotide of a neuroendocrine syndrome from malignant melanoma.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16877188     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We present a unique case of a neuroendocrine syndrome in a patient with Stage IV vaginal melanoma metastatic to the liver that was successfully palliated with octreotide. Similar to the carcinoid syndrome, the patient exhibited chronic diaphoresis, intermittent low-grade fevers, dizziness, nausea with vomiting, and hot flashes. The symptoms on admission of acute hypotension, acute exacerbation of abdominal pains, and intractable nausea with vomiting suggested a neuroendocrine crisis secondary to massive degranulation and hormone release. Consistent with our hypothesis, her plasma chromogranin A was found to be elevated. Octreotide was used successfully to palliate her symptoms. When the octreotide was stopped, all her symptoms returned. As the use of octreotide is gaining application in palliative care, this case highlights the effectiveness of its use in a select group of patients whose symptoms would be otherwise difficult to manage.
Authors:
Alexander W Jahng; Solomon S Liao
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of pain and symptom management     Volume:  32     ISSN:  0885-3924     ISO Abbreviation:  J Pain Symptom Manage     Publication Date:  2006 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-07-31     Completed Date:  2006-09-20     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8605836     Medline TA:  J Pain Symptom Manage     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  191-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of California at Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California 92868, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abdominal Pain / prevention & control*
Chest Pain / prevention & control*
Female
Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use
Humans
Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy,  secondary*
Melanoma / drug therapy,  secondary*
Middle Aged
Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy,  secondary
Octreotide / therapeutic use*
Palliative Care / methods*
Syndrome
Treatment Outcome
Vaginal Neoplasms / drug therapy
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Gastrointestinal Agents; 83150-76-9/Octreotide

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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