Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Tumors

If a person has symptoms that suggest a VIPoma, his or her doctor will first take a medical history and perform a physical exam. Then blood tests are typically the first tests performed.

A diagnosis of a VIPoma can be made if there are elevated levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the blood. Other findings of blood tests include:

• Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia)
• Low magnesium and high calcium levels in the blood
• Elevated levels of sugar in the blood or development of diabetes

These symptoms may also be caused by conditions other than VIPomas. A diagnosis of VIPoma can be confirmed with a biopsy, whereby a sample of a tumor or tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.

Additional tests are then done to determine the location of the tumor. In adults, most tests focus on the pancreas, where the majority of VIPomas are found. These tests may include any of the following:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan, a type of x-ray procedure that provides detailed images of internal organs
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves and strong magnets to provide pictures of internal organs
• Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, an imaging technique that visualizes certain hormone-producing tumors

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