Glucagonoma With Necrolytic Migratory Erythema: Metabolic Profile and Detection of Biallelic Inactivation of DAXX Gene.

Context: Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) occurs in approximately 70% of patients with glucagonoma syndrome. Excessive stimulation of metabolic pathways by hyperglucagonemia, which leads to hypoaminoacidemia, contributes to NME pathogenesis. However, the molecular pathogenesis of glucagonoma and relationships between metabolic abnormalities and clinical symptoms remain unclear. Patient: A 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a generalized rash and weight loss. NME was diagnosed by histopathological examination of skin biopsy tissue. Laboratory tests revealed diabetes, hyperglucagonemia, marked insulin resistance, severe hypoaminoacidemia, ketosis, and anemia. Enhanced computed tomography scans detected a 29-mm pancreatic hypervascular tumor, which was eventually diagnosed as glucagonoma. Preoperative treatment with octreotide long-acting release reduced the glucagon level, improved the amino acid profile, and produced NME remission. Surgical tumor excision normalized the metabolic status and led to remission of symptoms, including NME. Interventions: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and subsequent targeted capture sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing and pyrosequencing, identified biallelic alteration of death-domain associated protein (DAXX) with a combination of loss of heterozygosity and frameshift mutations (c.553_554del:p.R185fs and c.1884dupC:p.C629fs) in the glucagonoma. Consistently, immunohistochemistry confirmed near-absence of DAXX staining in the tumor cells. Tumor expression of glucagon and somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and 3 messenger RNA was markedly upregulated. Conclusions: This is a report of glucagonoma with biallelic inactivation of DAXX determined by WES. The tumor manifested as glucagonoma syndrome with generalized NME. This case showed the relationship between hypoaminoacidemia and NME status. Further investigations are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of NME onset and glucagonoma tumorigenesis.

Cutaneous manifestations of gastrointestinal disease: part I.

Cutaneous findings are not uncommonly a concomitant finding in patients afflicted with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. The dermatologic manifestations may precede clinically evident GI disease. Part I of this 2-part CME review focuses on dermatologic findings as they relate to hereditary and nonhereditary polyposis disorders and paraneoplastic disorders. A number of hereditary GI disorders have an increased risk of colorectal carcinomas. These disorders include familial adenomatous polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and juvenile polyposis syndrome. Each disease has its own cutaneous signature that aids dermatologists in the early diagnosis and detection of hereditary GI malignancy. These disease processes are associated with particular gene mutations that can be used in screening and to guide additional genetic counseling. In addition, there is a group of hamartomatous syndromes, some of which are associated with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene mutations, which present with concurrent skin findings. These include Cowden syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Finally, paraneoplastic disorders are another subcategory of GI diseases associated with cutaneous manifestations, including malignant acanthosis nigricans, Leser-Trélat sign, tylosis, Plummer-Vinson syndrome, necrolytic migratory erythema, perianal extramammary Paget disease, carcinoid syndrome, paraneoplastic dermatomyositis, and paraneoplastic pemphigus. Each of these disease processes have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of GI malignancy. This underscores the important role of dermatologists in the diagnosis, detection, monitoring, and treatment of these disorders while consulting and interacting with their GI colleagues.