Gastrointestinal Physiology · NEET PG Preparation Physiology
A 45-year-old man presents with chronic watery diarrhea, weight loss, and hypokalemia. Workup reveals a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Basal gastri…
Practice question from Gastrointestinal Physiology (NEET PG Preparation Physiology), with the correct answer and a step-by-step solution.
medium · MCQ · Q-CE675A
A 45-year-old man presents with chronic watery diarrhea, weight loss, and hypokalemia. Workup reveals a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Basal gastric acid secretion is markedly elevated and refractory to standard medical therapy. Which of the following gastrointestinal hormones or peptides is most likely elevated in this patient?
- A.Gastrin
- B.Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)Correct answer
- C.Somatostatin
- D.Secretin
Solution
The clinical presentation of watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria (or refractory high gastric acid depending on the tumor type, but classically WDHA syndrome: watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria) points to a VIPoma, a neuroendocrine tumor secreting Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP). VIP stimulates intestinal water and electrolyte secretion, leading to secretory diarrhea.
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