Zollinger-Ellison syndrome pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aravind Reddy Kothagadi M.B.B.S [2] Mohamad Alkateb, MBBCh [3]

Overview

Development of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is the result of increased levels of gastrin due to an existing gastrinoma in the duodenum or pancreas.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a disorder where production of increased levels of gastrin causes the stomach to release excess amounts of hydrochloric acid. Mostly, the cause being a tumor (gastrinoma) of the duodenum or pancreas thereby producing the hormone gastrin. Gastrin then resuolts in an excessive production of acid which often may lead to peptic ulcers (in almost 95% of patients).^[1]
Increased basal gastric acid output and hyyperplasia of the fundic parietal cells occur as a result of excessive amounts of gastrin secreted by the gastrinoma tumor cells. The excessive gastric acid output overrides the mucosal defense of the gastric and duodenal wall thereby causing ulceration, and inactivation of pancreatic digestive enzymes which therefore results in fat malabsorption and diarrhea. Secretory nature of diarrhea is a result of the inhibition of absorption of sodium and water by the small intestine. ^[2]
The pathophysiology of ZES is the stimulatory action of gastrin on the parietal cells of the gastric antrum resulting in hypersecretory acid milleu. ^[3]
Majority of patients with ZES also develop peptic ulcers which are large large and multiple in number, usually in the distal duodenum and proximal jejunum (which usually would be an uncommon location for ulcers arising due to Helicobacter pylori or by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). ^[3]

The primary causative lesion is assumed to arise sporadically in approximately 80% of the cases and in the rest of the recorded cases, this entity exists as part of MEN-1, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors of the pituitary, the parathyroid, and the pancreas. ^[4]

Gross pathology presents as enlarged fundic mucosal folds with cerebriform pattern.

A well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (NET) histologically typically shows an organ like arrangement of cells with nesting, trabecular, or gyriform patterns. ^[2]
The tumor cells are usually round with regular bland nuclei and produce large amounts of secretory granules with diffuse immunoexpression of neuroendocrine markers. In contrast, the poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (NET) shows a atypical, sheet-like, diffuse and irregular nuclei, less cytoplasmic secretory granules, and limited biomarker immunoexpression. ^[2]
Immunostaining for chromogranin A and synaptophysin is an important step in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. In order to differentiate from other neuroendocrine tumors gastrin immunostaining may be used. somatostatin scintigraphy is considered an effective localizing tool as gastrinomas tend to express a high density of somatostatin receptors. ^[2]