The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Case Report

Spinal Metastasis as the Initial Manifestation of a Nonsecretory Glucagonoma

Authors: Anjana Aggarwal, MD, Jennifer Brainard, MD, Daniel J. Brotman, MD

Abstract

Glucagonomas are rare functional endocrine tumors of the pancreas that classically present with symptoms of glucagon excess, including rash, hyperglycemia, diarrhea, and weight loss. Metastatic disease at presentation is common but is often limited to the liver and regional lymph nodes. We describe an unusual case of a patient with glucagonoma who presented with a pathologic vertebral fracture. This tumor had no evidence of active hormone secretion but tested positive for glucagon by immunohistochemical staining.

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