BACKGROUND glucagonoma is a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor derived from alpha-cells of the islets of Langerhans. It is marked by tumoral autonomous production of glucagon and characterized, among other symptoms, by necrolytic migratory erythema, an erythematous circinate lesion with areas of necrosis and sloughing. This is a rare disease with worldwide incidence estimated at 1 case per 20 million people. METHODS we report a case of glucagonoma associated necrolytic migratory erythema in a male patient, 56 years, with signs of skin lesions mainly on his legs and groin, hyperglycemia and weight loss. Biopsies of the skin lesions were performed and imaging of the abdomen showed a mass of 10 x 9 cm, at the pancreatic region. The patient was subjected to body-caudal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with autotransplant of the spleen in the greater omentum. The histopathologic report indicated a tumor in the pancreatic alpha cells. Immunohistochemistry showed expression of glucagon and chromogranin A in most tumor cells, consistent with the diagnosis of glucagonoma. The patient presented 3 years of outpatient follow-up with no complications. CONCLUSIONS the necrolytic migratory erythema is important for the clinical recognition of glucagonoma, and its early diagnosis is essential for a successful curative therapy.