A case of multiple endocrine neoplasia: hyperparathyroidism, insulinoma, GRF‐oma, hypercalcitoninaemia and intractable peptic ulceration

A 42-year-old woman with a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) presented with symptomatic hypoglycaemia and peptic ulceration. Investigation revealed an insulinoma, hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcitoninaemia with a positive pentagastrin stimulation test, acromegaly due to a GRF-oma, hyperprolacti-naemia and normal serum gastrin levels. Five pancreatic tumours were removed at laparotomy and immuno-staining was positive for insulin, calcitonin, somatostatin and glucagon. Post-operatively she developed elevated serum gastrin levels and gross peptic ulceration, despite H2-blockers, and died of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage suggesting that removal of the somatostatinoma may have allowed increased gastrin secretion from a gastrinoma. This case emphasizes the importance of measuring a wide variety of tumour marker peptides in MEN 1 and suggests that caution is required in interpretation of the pentagastrin stimulation test in such cases. Patients with MEN 1 and known peptic ulceration may require peri-operative omeprazole treatment even if serum gastrin levels are normal.