1 INTRODUCTION
Diarrhea is a frequent visceral symptom of pediatric patients. Diarrhea
that does not improve after more than four weeks is defined as chronic
diarrhea [1]. Persistent chronic diarrhea can induce electrolyte
abnormalities and growth impairment. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
(VIP)-secreting tumor (VIPoma) of neuroendocrine tumor can cause chronic
diarrhea, which may manifest as Verner-Morrison syndrome (hypokalemia,
acidosis, and severe dehydration) [2] or WDHA syndrome (watery
diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria, and acidosis) [3].
VIPoma can be diagnosed by measuring the serum VIP concentration.
However, the measurement of serum VIP is not currently available on a
commercial basis in Japan. Therefore, imaging modalities and
pathological examinations are important and essential for a definitive
diagnosis.
Several recent reports have described laparoscopic surgery for
neuroblastoma [4-6], but no literature regarding laparoscopic
surgery for VIP-secreting neuroblastic tumor (VIPNT) in pediatric
patients has been found.
We herein report our case of very-low-risk VIPNT in an infant who
underwent successful laparoscopic surgery.