[Excessive hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue and Wernicke's encephalopathy (author's transl)]. 1977

H Noltenius, and H J Colmant

A 52 year old woman with a history of mild pancreatitis had a palpable mass in the upper abdomen. She died in an unexplained coma. The autopsy revealed an excessive hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue resulting in the largest pancreas ever reported (254 gramm). This hyperplasia was accompanied by a chronic pancreatitis. In the central nervous system a Wernick's encephalopathy had developed; severe loss of neurons was stated in the thalamus; extensive degeneration was found in the upper vermis of the cerebellum. The discussion of this case includes the relationship between the diseases of the pancreas and neuropsychiatric and neuropathologic findings. It is assumed that the hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue could only be an additional factor in the occurence of post alcoholic complications. This hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue is considered to be a hamartom-like formation and it should therefore be distinguished from other pancreatic hyperplasia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006965 Hyperplasia An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ without tumor formation. It differs from HYPERTROPHY, which is an increase in bulk without an increase in the number of cells. Hyperplasias
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010179 Pancreas A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D010190 Pancreatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PANCREAS. Depending on the types of ISLET CELLS present in the tumors, various hormones can be secreted: GLUCAGON from PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS; INSULIN from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS; and SOMATOSTATIN from the SOMATOSTATIN-SECRETING CELLS. Most are malignant except the insulin-producing tumors (INSULINOMA). Cancer of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cancer,Cancer of the Pancreas,Neoplasms, Pancreatic,Pancreas Cancer,Pancreas Neoplasms,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinoma,Pancreatic Carcinoma,Acinar Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Acinar Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Cancer, Pancreas,Cancer, Pancreatic,Cancers, Pancreas,Cancers, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic Acinar,Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Carcinomas, Pancreatic Acinar,Neoplasm, Pancreas,Neoplasm, Pancreatic,Neoplasms, Pancreas,Pancreas Cancers,Pancreas Neoplasm,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinomas,Pancreatic Cancers,Pancreatic Carcinomas,Pancreatic Neoplasm
D010195 Pancreatitis INFLAMMATION of the PANCREAS. Pancreatitis is classified as acute unless there are computed tomographic or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic findings of CHRONIC PANCREATITIS (International Symposium on Acute Pancreatitis, Atlanta, 1992). The two most common forms of acute pancreatitis are ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS and gallstone pancreatitis. Acute Edematous Pancreatitis,Acute Pancreatitis,Pancreatic Parenchyma with Edema,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edema,Pancreatitis, Acute,Pancreatitis, Acute Edematous,Peripancreatic Fat Necrosis,Acute Edematous Pancreatitides,Acute Pancreatitides,Edema, Pancreatic Parenchymal,Edematous Pancreatitides, Acute,Edematous Pancreatitis, Acute,Fat Necrosis, Peripancreatic,Necrosis, Peripancreatic Fat,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edemas,Pancreatitides, Acute,Pancreatitides, Acute Edematous,Parenchymal Edema, Pancreatic,Peripancreatic Fat Necroses
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006222 Hamartoma A focal malformation resembling a neoplasm, composed of an overgrowth of mature cells and tissues that normally occur in the affected area. Hamartomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014899 Wernicke Encephalopathy An acute neurological disorder characterized by the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and disturbances of mental activity or consciousness. Eye movement abnormalities include nystagmus, external rectus palsies, and reduced conjugate gaze. THIAMINE DEFICIENCY and chronic ALCOHOLISM are associated conditions. Pathologic features include periventricular petechial hemorrhages and neuropil breakdown in the diencephalon and brainstem. Chronic thiamine deficiency may lead to KORSAKOFF SYNDROME. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1139-42; Davis & Robertson, Textbook of Neuropathology, 2nd ed, pp452-3) Beriberi, Cerebral,Encephalopathy, Wernicke,Encephalopathy, Gayet-Wernicke,Encephalopathy, Wernicke's,Gayet-Wernicke Encephalopathy,Wernicke Disease,Wernicke Polioencephalitis, Superior Hemorrhagic,Wernicke Superior Hemorrhagic Polioencephalitis,Wernicke Syndrome,Wernicke's Disease,Wernicke's Encephalopathy,Wernicke's Polioencephalitis, Superior Hemorrhagic,Wernicke's Superior Hemorrhagic Polioencephalitis,Wernicke's Syndrome,Cerebral Beriberi,Encephalopathies, Wernicke,Encephalopathy, Gayet Wernicke,Encephalopathy, Wernickes,Gayet Wernicke Encephalopathy,Wernicke Encephalopathies

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