A Ten-Year Material of Insulinoma: Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment

Abstract

A 10-year series of patients operated for insulinoma at Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, is presented. Twelve patients (three men, nine women) aged 26-70 years are included in the material. The patients had a history of recurrent hypoglycemic symptoms of 1 month to 20 years. Hyperinsulinism was established by determinations of blood glucose and plasma insulin in the fasting state. Selective angiography could show the tumor in 3 out of the 12 patients. A thorough pancreatic mobilization and palpation was performed during operation. Solitary pancreatic tumor was found in 10 patients, and 1 of them had also metastases in the liver. One patient had two tumors, one in the head and one in the tail of the pancreas. In one patient it was not possible to find any tumor at operation. Distal pancreatic resection and splenectomy were performed when the tumor was localized in the body or tail or when no tumor was found. Tumours in the head were excised locally. Microscopy showed insulinoma without malignancy in 10 patients, malignant tumor in insulae with metastases in the liver in 1 patient, and multiple adenomatosis of insulae in the patient without any palpable tumor. The 11 patients with benign disease were examined 1-10 years after the operation and had no signs of hyperinsulinism or of diabetes.

Key-words:

• Diagnosis
• glucose
• insulin
• pancreatic neoplasm
• surgery