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Special Instructions
Values obtained with different assay methods should not be used interchangeably in serial testing. It is recommended that only one assay method be used consistently to monitor each patient's course of therapy. This procedure does not provide serial monitoring; it is intended for one-time use only. If serial monitoring is required, please use the serial monitoring number 480704 to order.
Expected Turnaround Time
3 - 12 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Related Information
Related Documents
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Serum, frozen
Volume
0.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.3 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
Container
Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube
Collection
Transfer the serum into a LabCorp PP transpak frozen purple tube with screw cap (LabCorp No 49482). Freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.
Storage Instructions
Freeze within four hours of collection.
Patient Preparation
Patients should fast for 10 hours prior to specimen collection. No radioisotopes should be administered during the 24 hours prior to specimen collection.
Causes for Rejection
Recently administered isotopes; specimen not frozen; specimen not serum
Test Details
Use
Support a diagnosis of pancreatic endocrine tumors
Limitations
Results of this test are labeled for research purposes only by the assay's manufacturer. The performance characteristics of this assay have not been established by the manufacturer. The result should not be used for treatment or for diagnostic purposes without confirmation of the diagnosis by another medically established diagnostic product or procedure. The performance characteristics were determined by LabCorp.
Methodology
Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
Reference Interval
0.0−418.0 pg/mL
Additional Information
Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a 36-amino-acid secretory peptide that is predominantly produced by the pancreas.1 The exact physiologic role of PP in healthy individuals has not been fully defined.1,2 It has been shown, however, that this peptide affects the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, water, and electrolytes.1 Its effect is biphasic in that PP initially enhances secretion and then inhibits secretion.1 PP increases gastric emptying and gut motility.1 It also relaxes the pyloric and ileocecocolic sphincters, the colon, and gallbladder.1 PP levels increase after ingestion of food and remain elevated from 4-8 hours.1-3 Prolonged fasting, diabetes, and exercise can also increase PP levels.2,3 Serum PP levels can be elevated in as many as 50% of patients with carcinoid syndrome.3 Increased levels can also be found in patients with duodenal ulcers and in patients with type I diabetes.1 PP levels are often low in patients with pancreatic insufficiency or pancreatitis.1
PP secretion can be increased by endocrine-active tumors of the pancreas.2-5 Tumors that secrete only PP are rare with only 22 cases reported in the literature.2,4 Seven of the reported cases developed a watery diarrhea hypokalemia achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome, also referred to as Verner-Morrison syndrome, that is similar to that seen in VIPomas.2 Another five reported cases had steatorrhea.2 The last ten had silent or nonfunctioning tumors without hormone-related symptoms.2
Increased PP secretion has been frequently reported in patients with functioning and nonfunctioning pancreatic tumors that produce other endocrine peptides.1-5 PP levels are often elevated in patients with VIPomas, glucagonomas, gastrinomas, and insulinomas.1,2,5 Eriksson and colleagues found that PP levels were elevated in 74% of patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors and that this peptide serves as a good general marker for patients suspected of having pancreatic endocrine tumors.5
Footnotes
1. Henderson RA, Rinker AD. Gastric, pancreatic and intestinal function. In: Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co;1999:1271-1327.
2. Pasieka JL, Hershfield N. Pancreatic polypeptide hyperplasia causing watery diarrhea syndrome: A case report. Can J Surg. 1999; 42(1):55-58 (review). 10071589
3. Vinik AI, Strodel WE, Eckhauser FE, Moattari AR, Lloyd R. Somatostatinomas, Ppomas, neurotensinomas. Semin Oncol. 1987 Sep; 14(3):263-281. 2820062
4. Bellows C, Haque S, Jaffe B. Pancreatic polypeptide islet cell tumor: Case report and review of the literature. J Gastrointest Surg. 1998 Nov-Dec; 2(6):526-532. 10457310
5. Eriksson B, Arnberg H, Lindgren PG, et al. Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumours: Clinical presentation, biochemical and histopathological findings in 84 patients. J Intern Med. 1990 Aug; 228(2):103-113. 2168468
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146704 | Pancreatic Polypeptide | 2721-9 | 146705 | Pancreatic Polypeptide | pg/mL | 2721-9 |
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The LOINC® codes are copyright © 1994-2021, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC® codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. Additional information regarding LOINC® codes can be found at LOINC.org, including the LOINC Manual, which can be downloaded at LOINC.org/downloads/files/LOINCManual.pdf