1. INSULINOMA
Katie Chambers, Sharon Kurval, Marcos
Reis

2. INSULINOMA
 Insulinomas are the most common tumors
arising from the pancreatic islets of
Langerhans
 Although most insulinomas are in the
pancreas, distinguishing the location of the
tumors is difficult at diagnosis
 The highest incidence is in people between 40
and 60 years of age, and women are affected
slightly more often than men.

3. SYMPTOMS
 Anxiety
 Weight Gain (patient can become
excessively obese)
 Behavior Changes
 Clouded Vision
 Confusion
 Convulsions
 Dizziness
 Headache
 Hunger
 Loss of Consciousness
 Rapid Heart Rate
 Sweating
 Tremor

4. CAUSES
 Insulinoma is a tumor found in the pancreas
that continues to produce insulin even when
your blood sugar drops too low
 High blood insulin levels cause low blood
sugar levels called Hypoglycemia
 Hypogycemia may be mild, leading to
symptoms such as anxiety and hunger or it
can be severe, leading to seizures, coma and
even death

5. THE PANCREAS
 The pancreas is an organ in the
abdomen that makes several
enzymes and hormones,
including insulin.
 Insulin reduces the level of
sugar(glucose) in the blood by
helping it move into cells
 When your blood sugar level
drops too low, the pancreas
stops making insulin until your
blood sugar returns to normal
 Insulinomas are rare and usually
occur in single, small tumors in

6. EXAMS AND TESTS
 Fasting Test: every
fasting test is started in
the morning by means
of an oral
administration of 100 g
of glucose
 Consists of an onset of
blood sampling as late
as after a 48h-fasting
period
http://www.insulinoma.net/english%20homepage/images/EHT_Con_Ins_
WZ.gif

7. EXAMS AND TESTS
 After fasting, your blood may be tested for:
 Blood C-peptide level
 Blood glucose level
 Blood insulin level
 Drugs that cause the pancreas to release insulin
 CT or MRI scan of the abdomen may be done to
look for a tumor in the pancreas. If the test is
negative, one of the following tests may be
performed:
 Endoscopic ultrasound
 Octreotide Scan
 Pancreatic Arteriography
 Pancreatic venous sampling for insulin

8. SCANS
http://hormones.gr/images/dyn/zogr- http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/mri-10.jpg
eus.jpg

9. TREATMENTS
 Surgery is the recommended treatment for
insulinoma. The tumor is first found by tests or
surgery.
 If there is a single tumor it will be removed.
 Ifthere are many tumors, part of the pancreas will
need to be removed (partial pancreatectomy).
 At least 15% of the pancreas must be left to
produce its enzymes.
 This may prevent the surgeon from removing the
whole insulinoma tumor.

10. TREATMENTS
 If no tumor is found
during surgery, you
may get the drug
diazoxide to lower
insulin production and
avoid hypoglycemia.
A diuretic is given to
prevent the body from
retaining fluid.
 Octreotide is used to http://www.unboundedmedicine.com/images/insulinoma7
%5B1%5D.jpg
reduce insulin release in
some patients

11. HISTORY
 Historically, the three components of
insulinoma
 1) symptoms of hypoglycemia
 2) documented plasma glucose of less than 50
mg/dL at the time of hypoglycemic symptoms
 3) relief of these symptoms with administration of
glucose has been referred to as Whipple's triad.

12. WORKS CITED
 The New York Times. (2010). Insulinoma. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/insulinoma/overview.html
 Medline Plus. (2012). Insulinoma. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000387.htm
 Center for Pancreatic and Bilary Disorders. (2002). Insulinoma. Retrieved February
21, 2012, from
http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdiseases/web%20pages/Endocr
ine%20tumors/pancreatic%20tumors/insulinoma.html
 UpToDate. (2012). Insulinoma. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/insulinoma
 Insulinoma UK. (2011). What is an insulinoma?. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from
http://www.insulinoma.co.uk/page_1218566549343.html
 eHow. (2011). How to Diagnose Insulinoma. Retrieved February 22, 2012, from
http://www.ehow.com/how_2086786_diagnose-insulinoma.html
 Medscape Reference. (2012). Insulinoma Treatment & Management. Retrieved
February 22, 2012, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/283039-overview
 University of Maryland Medical Center. (2010). Insulinoma – Treatment. Retrieved
February 22, 2012, from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000387trt.htm