Pancreatic islet cell tumor

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Endocrine glands

Pancreas

Islet cell tumors; Islet of Langerhans tumor; Neuroendocrine tumors

Symptoms are caused by the hormone the tumor is producing.

For example, insulinomas produce the hormone insulin, which helps the body lower blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling tired or weak
• Shaking or sweating
• Headache
• Hunger
• Nervousness, anxiety, or feeling irritable
• Unclear thinking or feeling uneasy
• Double or blurry vision
• Fast or pounding heartbeat

If your blood sugar gets too low, you may faint, have a seizure, or even go into a coma.

Gastrinomas make the hormone gastrin, which helps the body manage stomach acid. Symptoms may include:

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• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Ulcers in the stomach and small bowel
• Vomiting blood (occasionally)

Glucagonomas make the hormone glucagon, which helps the body raise blood sugar levels. Symptoms can include:

• Diabetes (present in most of the patients)
• Inflamed mouth and tongue
• Crusty or scaly skin rash on the face, abdomen, buttocks, or feet - may be filled with clear fluid or pus

Blood tests may vary depending upon the symptoms, but may include:

• Fasting glucose level
• Gastrin level
• Glucose tolerance test
• Secretin stimulation test for pancreas
• Blood glucagon level
• Blood insulin C-peptide
• Blood insulin level

The following imaging tests may be performed:

• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• MRI of abdomen

Other tests that may be done include:

Sampling the vein drainage of segments of the pancreas

Occasionally, surgery is needed to diagnose and treat this condition. During this procedure, the surgeon feels the pancreas and may use ultrasound probes.

Review Date: 03/02/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).