1 INTRODUCTION
Diarrhea is a frequent visceral symptom of pediatric patients. Diarrhea that does not improve after more than four weeks is defined as chronic diarrhea [1]. Persistent chronic diarrhea can induce electrolyte abnormalities and growth impairment. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-secreting tumor (VIPoma) of neuroendocrine tumor can cause chronic diarrhea, which may manifest as Verner-Morrison syndrome (hypokalemia, acidosis, and severe dehydration) [2] or WDHA syndrome (watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria, and acidosis) [3].
VIPoma can be diagnosed by measuring the serum VIP concentration. However, the measurement of serum VIP is not currently available on a commercial basis in Japan. Therefore, imaging modalities and pathological examinations are important and essential for a definitive diagnosis.
Several recent reports have described laparoscopic surgery for neuroblastoma [4-6], but no literature regarding laparoscopic surgery for VIP-secreting neuroblastic tumor (VIPNT) in pediatric patients has been found.
We herein report our case of very-low-risk VIPNT in an infant who underwent successful laparoscopic surgery.