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990662 
Journal Article 
Reversing Hyperammonemia in Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) 
Broadbridge, V; Townsend, A; Pittman, K; Kimber, R; Patterson, W; Sukumaran, S; Price, TJ 
2010 
Yes 
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
ISSN: 0192-0790
EISSN: 1539-2031 
44 
8 
e186-e189 
English 
20453660 
Ammonia is a neurotoxin that is normally cleared by the intact liver and if not, hyperammonemia results in hepatic encephalopathy. Hyperammonemia may be owing to primary or secondary causes. Early diagnosis is important to prevent permanent brain damage. Advanced malignancy involving the liver is associated with hyperammonemia as a result of abnormality of the portal venous system or massive hepatic tumor burdon. Neuroendocrine tumors are an example of a malignant process that frequently involves the liver but despite this, may still have a relatively good prognosis, and are often characterized by chronic manageable symptoms and slow progression. Hyperammonemia in neuroendocrine tumor would represent a potentially reversible but ongoing process associated with an indolent malignancy. We present 2 cases that are examples of this diagnosis and discuss the diagnostic and management issues that may arise.