Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are a group of nonhomogeneous malignancies from different organs that share in common the ability to secrete a wide range of peptides. The tumors originate from a group of cells widely dispersed in different organs. These cells were buy PI-103 formerly named amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells, and tumors originating from these cells were called carcinoids or apudomas. At present this cellular system is called diffuse neuroendocrine system (DNES) cells, and the tumors originating from them are collectively called

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical neuroendocrine tumors.1-3 The lungs and the gastrointestinal tract are the major sites for emergence of these neoplasms. The tumors can be either functional or nonfunctional. Nicholls, in 1902, reported the first tumor of this type, an islet cell carcinoma of pancreas. Since then pancreatic NET, either nonfunctional or capable of secreting insulin, glucagon, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical somatostatin, gastrin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) have been reported. Secretion of hormones not native to pancreatic endocrine system, such as calcitonin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) have also been reported during the last 30 years.4,5 Herein, we present the

case of a young Iranian woman who had a pancreatic NET during pregnancy, and was diagnosed at postpartum because of severe Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical hypercalcemia and mental confusion. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one case presentation in the literature,6 whose pregnancy was associated Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with pancreatic NET. We have also reviewed the clinical and laboratory data of the reported cases of this unusual disease in literature. Case Description A 35-year-old gravida one para one, pregnant woman was admitted to hospital because of nausea and vomiting. She was in her 37th week of pregnancy, and had had nausea and vomiting since her second trimester. She also Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical felt that fetal movements had decreased since two to three days before admission. She had had no serious problems until three months earlier when gestational diabetes was diagnosed and successfully

treated with insulin. Her total weight gain during PD184352 (CI-1040) pregnancy was around seven kilograms. The patient was admitted to hospital and underwent an immediate cesarean section because of nonreactive non stress test (NST). The baby was a girl with an Apgar score of 10, imperforated anus and tracheoesophageal fistula. Routine laboratory evaluation of the neonate showed a serum calcium level of 17 mg/dl. Neonatal hypercalcemia prompted us to check the mother’s calcium, which was found to be 16.3 and 17 mg/dl on two consecutive measurements. Serum phosphorus levels were 2.1 and 2.6 and 2.8 mg/dl on three separate occasions. Chest X ray and routine laboratory evaluations were within normal limits. Serum PTH was 14 and 15 pg/ml on two different occasions.