Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours are distinctive because they can secrete which hormones?

• A. Melatonin
• B. Adrenaline
• C. Thyroxine
• D. Insulin, glucagon, or gastrin

Answer: (D)

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours come from hormone-secreting cells of the pancreas and can produce hormones like insulin, glucagon, and gastrin. This hormone-secreting ability is what makes these tumours distinctive, and when they do secrete, they can cause specific clinical syndromes (for example, insulin releasing tumors cause hypoglycemia, gastrinomas can cause ulcers, and glucagonomas affect glucose metabolism and other features). The other listed substances—melatonin, adrenaline, and thyroxine—are produced by other organs (pineal gland, adrenal medulla, and thyroid, respectively) and are not secreted by pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. So insulin, glucagon, or gastrin is the correct set of hormones associated with these tumours.