What condition is characterized by significant fluid loss due to watery diarrhea and can lead to dehydration?

The condition characterized by significant fluid loss due to watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, is VIPoma. This is a rare endocrine tumor derived from vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) producing cells, typically found in the pancreas. VIPoma secretes excessive amounts of VIP, which results in copious, watery diarrhea. This diarrhea can be persistent, leading to severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances, ultimately resulting in dehydration.

Patients with VIPoma often present with the classic symptoms of profuse diarrhea, low potassium levels (hypokalemia), and flushing. The mechanism behind the diarrhea involves VIP stimulating intestinal secretion and inhibiting absorption, leading to increased water and electrolyte loss through the gastrointestinal tract.

In contrast, the other conditions listed do not typically lead to such significant fluid loss due to diarrhea. Celiac disease primarily causes malabsorption rather than copious watery diarrhea, somatostatinoma typically results in a more complex set of symptoms including diabetes and steatorrhea, and glucagonoma is more associated with a condition called necrolytic migratory erythema and hyperglycemia rather than watery diarrhea.