Locations:
VIPoma (vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting) tumors are rare. They develop in the endocrine cells in your pancreas. A VIPoma can be malignant (cancerous). The most significant symptom is severe watery diarrhea. Treatment may include medication to manage symptoms and surgery to remove the tumor. In some cases, surgery cures the disease.
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A VIPoma (vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting) tumor is a rare type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. It develops in your pancreas’s endocrine cells. The tumors cause chronic (long-term) watery diarrhea. Healthcare providers may refer to this condition as Verner-Morrison syndrome.
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VIPomas are very rare. Experts estimate 1 in 10 million people in the U.S. will develop this condition. It can be challenging to live with a very rare disease that disrupts your daily life. But healthcare providers have treatments that may cure VIPoma or help ease its symptoms.
The most significant symptom is severe watery diarrhea that happens even when you’re not eating (fasting) or doesn’t get better within a few days. Other symptoms are:
Experts don’t know the exact cause. They do know VIPoma symptoms happen when the tumor releases unusually large amounts of a certain hormone. This is the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) hormone. It supports your digestion. It manages the release of water, salts, enzymes and gastric acid in your digestive system. It also relaxes certain muscles in your digestive tract. In VIPoma, large amounts of the VIP hormone trigger symptoms like severe watery diarrhea and belly cramps.
VIPoma triggers floods of watery diarrhea. Some people produce 1 to 3 quarts of watery poop every day. Over time, people develop dehydration and hypokalemia (low levels of potassium). Those conditions may lead to serious medical issues like:
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A healthcare provider will do a physical examination. They’ll ask about your symptoms, like watery diarrhea and belly cramps that last for more than a few days. They may do a stool test to rule out other common diseases that cause diarrhea. Other tests may include:
Treatment may be a combination of medication and surgery. A healthcare provider may prescribe:
Once your symptoms are under control, your provider may recommend the following:
A distal pancreatectomy removes the body and tail of your pancreas. It’s an option in cases when a tumor hasn’t spread (metastasized) to another area of your body.
Surgery may cure VIPoma. Medication may reduce VIPoma symptoms. But everyone’s situation is different. What you can expect may be very different from what other people with VIPoma may experience. Your surgeon and healthcare team know you and your situation. They’re your best resources for information.
If you’re receiving treatment for VIPoma, contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse. Go to the emergency room if you have:
A VIPoma can cause chronic diarrhea that disrupts your days and nights. It may be a relief to know what’s causing your symptoms. But VIPoma is a very rare disease. It can be frustrating and lonely to have an illness that few people understand. You may feel self-conscious about the symptoms that VIPoma causes. Your healthcare team understands those feelings. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether it’s how to manage symptoms or how to live with a rare disease.
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Last reviewed on 12/03/2024.
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