Abstract
Background: Vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumours (VIPomas) lead to high-volume secretory diarrhoea with hypokalaemia, as well as hyperglycaemia and hypercalcaemia. Diagnosis is often delayed. Case Description: We present a 13-year-old girl with a distal pancreatic VIPoma diagnosed on her second hospital presentation who became severely hypotensive on anaesthetic induction prior to tumour removal, likely due to the vasodilatory effect of supraphysiological VIP levels. Prior to the second surgical attempt, an octreotide infusion was started preoperatively to suppress systemic VIP levels and counter the potential for VIP-induced hypotension upon tumour manipulation, and the tumour was successfully resected. Hyperparathyroidism and history of GI tumour resection were subsequently identified in the father, and the two members were found to have a heterozygous variant of uncertain significance in the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene. However, as this family meets the diagnostic criteria for MEN1 clinically, ongoing surveillance for MEN1 tumours and genetic counseling for at-risk family members are required despite the non-pathogenic genetic result. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of screening for a VIPoma in patients with high-volume secretory diarrhoea and preventing cardiovascular complications with perioperative VIP suppression. Furthermore, careful interpretation of genetic results within the clinical context is required.
