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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2008; 14(12): 1952-1954
Published online Mar 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1952
Published online Mar 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1952
Paraneoplastic hyperinsulinism and secondary hypoglycaemia in a patient with advanced colon cancer: A rare association
Roberto Díaz, Jorge Aparicio, Tania Fleitas, Francisco Aparisi, Maria Martín, Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital La Fe, Avenida Campanar 19-21, Valencia 46009, Spain
Andrea Mendizábal, Marisa Faus, Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital La Fe, Avenida Campanar 19-21, Valencia 46009, Spain
Author contributions: Diaz R, Aparicio J acquired data and wrote the manuscript; Fleitas T, Aparisi F, Martin M, Mendizabal A and Faus M acquired data and revised the article.
Correspondence to: Roberto Díaz, MD, Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Avenida Campanar 19-21, Valencia 46009, Spain. rdiazbev@hotmail.com
Telephone: +34-96-1973138
Fax: +34-96-1973138
Received: January 1, 2007
Revised: January 25, 2008
Published online: March 28, 2008
Revised: January 25, 2008
Published online: March 28, 2008
Abstract
We review the case of a 74-year-old patient with advanced colon cancer who suffered recurrent bouts of hypoglycemia. A state of inappropriate, non-suppressed hyperinsulinism in the presence of severe hypoglycemia was diagnosed. We finally discuss the known mechanisms behind fasting hypoglycemia in patients with advanced cancer, the diagnosis, and possible treatments of this rare paraneoplastic endocrine complication.
Keywords: Hypoglycemia, Colon cancer, Paraneoplastic, Hyperinsulinism, Tumour markers