A Hypoglycemia-inducing Giant Borderline Phyllodes Tumor Secreting High-molecular-weight Insulin-Like Growth Factor II: Immunohistochemistry and a Western Blot Analysis

Intern Med. 2018 Jan 15;57(2):237-241. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9287-17. Epub 2017 Oct 11.

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman with a large right breast mass was emergently hospitalized for generalized weakness and fatigue. A histological examination of tumor biopsy specimens revealed a phyllodes tumor (PT). She suddenly lost consciousness due to severe hypoglycemia. Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) due to the PT was suspected. The tumor was emergently resected. A histological examination revealed a borderline PT. The patient recovered from the hypoglycemic episode. High-molecular-weight insulin-like growth factor II was detected in serum that had been collected preoperatively and in the tumor tissue, but not in serum that had been collected postoperatively. We herein present a case of a borderline PT with NICTH.

Keywords: Western blotting; immunohistochemistry; insulin-like growth factor II; non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia; phyllodes tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / biosynthesis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Phyllodes Tumor / complications*
  • Phyllodes Tumor / metabolism*
  • Phyllodes Tumor / pathology

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II