Hypoglycemia induced by secretion of high molecular weight insulin-like growth factor-II from a malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

Intern Med. 2001 Apr;40(4):341-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.40.341.

Abstract

A 49-year-old woman with a malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura presented with hypoglycemia. Most of the serum insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) existed as high molecular weight IGF-II. Furthermore, there were larger amounts of high molecular weight IGF-II found in the tumor cystic fluid than in the serum. After surgical resection of the tumor, high molecular weight IGF-II was not detected in the serum and the hypoglycemia resolved. Immunohistochemically, IGF-II was localized in the so-called Golgi area of the tumor cell. These findings suggest that hypoglycemia in this patient was caused by the high molecular weight IGF-II produced by the tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fibroma / diagnosis*
  • Fibroma / metabolism
  • Fibroma / pathology
  • Fibroma / surgery
  • Golgi Apparatus / pathology
  • Golgi Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / analysis
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pleural Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pleural Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II