Apudoma
Apudoma Clinical Features
"Structurally, apudoma tumors often display electron-dense granules, which produce multiple regulatory amines and hormones, chromogranin A or C, synaptophysine and neuron-specific enolase. Amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells are known to give rise to islet cell tumors of the pancreas, medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, phaeochromocytomas, melanomas and carcinoid tumors. As such, symptoms and histology of pancreatic islet cell tumors and apudoma have striking similarities. "
Apudoma Definition
An apudoma is any endocrine tumor that arises from an APUD cell (APUD, meaning amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) properties. These cells, which are derived from neural crest cells, are from structures such as the prostate, pancreas and ampulla of Vater. First identified in 1975, Apudoma is a very general term. As such, most doctors and scientists prefer to use a more specific term when possible, such as apudoma of gall bladder.