Necrolytic migratory erythema and glucagon cell tumour of the pancreas: the glucagonoma syndrome. Report of two cases.

Two cases of necrolytic migratory erythema are described. Both patients also suffered from anaemia, weight loss, hypersedimentation and carbohydrate intolerance. A solitary pancreatic tumour was found in both cases-- at autopsy in one and at laparotomy in the other. Microscopic examination of skin biopsies showed necrolysis of superficial epidermis. Both patients had extremely elevated plasma concentrations of pancreatic glucagon. By means of specific staining and immunofluorescence techniques the tumours were shown to consist of glucagon-containing alpha2-cells. It is concluded that these patients suffered from the newly described glucagonoma syndrome.