ABOUT THE DISEASE

It is a rare form of a neuroendocrine tumor.

An insulinoma is a small tumor in pancreas that produces an excess amount of insulin. They are more common in women. The tumors are usually small (less than 2cm) and more than 90% of all insulinomas are benign (non-cancerous).

SYMPTOMS

• • Double/ blurred vision
• • Confusion
• • Anxiety
• • Dizziness
• • Mood swings
• • Weakness
• • Sweating
• • Hunger
• • Tremors
• • Convulsions or seizures
• • Increased heart rate
• • Loss of consciousness or coma
• • Sudden weight gain

CAUSES

The cause of insulinomas is unknown. Normally, the insulin secreted from pancreas in response to glucose, helps to utilize or store the glucose and thus maintain blood glucose level in a safe range. As the glucose level continues to fall toward the lower limit of normal (60-100mg/dL), the secretion of insulin stops, and this allows the glucose to remain in the normal range. In this condition, pancreas continues to produce insulin even when blood sugar drops too low.

DIAGNOSIS

- Clinical Evaluation
- Blood C-peptide level
- Blood glucose level
- Blood insulin level
- Imaging tests: Abdomen CT, MRI, or PET scan, Endoscopic ultrasound, Octreotide scan, Pancreatic arteriography

TREATMENT METHODS

The best treatment is surgical removal of the tumor through enucleation or may involve partial or total pancreatectomy.

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