Neurosecretion of arginine vasopressin by an olfactory neuroblastoma causing reversible syndrome of antidiuresis.

A 26-year-old woman with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis demonstrated complete recovery following the resection of an olfactory neuroblastoma. Tissue arginine vasopressin levels by radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemical staining of the tissue arginine vasopressin, postoperative normalization of plasma arginine vasopressin levels, and the clinical resolution are evidence in support of a neurally derived tumor being the direct source of neurosecretion of arginine vasopressin rather than neurohypophyseal secretion or secretion from non-neural tissues, as reported to date in the etiology of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis.