The glucagonoma syndrome in a Chinese man

The glucagonoma syndrome is a rare clinical condition. In this syndrome there is a pancreatic islet cell tumour which secretes glucagon, associated with a distinctive skin eruption - migratory necrolytic erythema. We describe a 79 year old Chinese man who presented with the typical skin features of this condition and on investigation had a pancreatic islet cell tumour. Serum glucagon levels were markedly elevated. He had a partial pancreatectomy and the skin rash improved dramatically. However he had liver metastases and responded poorly to streptozotocin. The skin features recurred and the patient died 9 months after diagnosis.