Doege-Potter syndrome: hypoglycaemic coma in a 90-year old due to a solitary fibrous tumour

Age Ageing. 2017 May 1;46(3):527-529. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afw221.

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare primary tumour of the pleura associated with 4% of cases with a paraneoplastic hypoglycaemia, termed Doege-Potter syndrome (DPS). We report a case of DPS presenting with severe coma in a 90-year-old woman. The cause was a malignant SFTP treated with surgical resection, from which the patient made a full recovery with prevention of recurrent hypoglycaemia. Surgical resection of the SFTP presenting with symptomatic hypoglycaemia should be considered even in elderly patients.

Keywords: Doege-Potter syndrome; older patient; solitary fibrous tumour.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Coma / blood
  • Coma / diagnosis
  • Coma / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / blood
  • Hypoglycemia / diagnosis
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / blood
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / complications*
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / diagnosis
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose