[Islet cell cancer with organic hyperinsulinism. Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy]. 1982

R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf

About 8%-15% of the patients with organic hyperinsulinism have an islet cell carcinoma (13% in our series). In addition to a history of complaints of relatively recent onset, the patients present clinically the typical intermittent neurologic-psychiatric symptoms concurrently associated with hypoglycemia. The diagnosis is established biochemically on the basis of hypoglycemia, with inadequate incrementation of the insulin concentration subsequent to suppression and provocation tests. Elevated serum proinsulin and, in most patients, an increased insulin secretion rate are usually found after administration of agents such as glucose or leucine. Localization of the tumors is achieved by selective coeliacography as well as abdominal computerized axial tomography. The islet cell carcinoma is found most frequently in the tail of the pancreas, less frequently in the body and head of the pancreas. Metastatic spread is seen early into adjacent lymph nodes and especially in the liver. The treatment of choice is surgical resection of the tumor. Even in cases with advanced metastatic involvement, surgical intervention appears indicated. Medical treatment includes the administration of diazoxide, long-acting glucagon as well as the cytostatic agent streptozotocin. The average survival time is 30-40 months after diagnosis (in our series 79 months). Thus, the prognosis of patients with islet cell carcinoma appears relatively favorable, especially when compared with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007516 Adenoma, Islet Cell A benign tumor of the pancreatic ISLET CELLS. Usually it involves the INSULIN-producing PANCREATIC BETA CELLS, as in INSULINOMA, resulting in HYPERINSULINISM. Islet Cell Tumor,Islet of Langerhans Tumor,Nesidioblastoma,Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumors,Island Cell Tumor,Adenomas, Islet Cell,Island Cell Tumors,Islet Cell Adenoma,Islet Cell Adenomas,Islet Cell Tumors,Langerhans Tumor Islet,Nesidioblastomas,Tumor Islet, Langerhans,Tumor, Island Cell,Tumor, Islet Cell,Tumors, Island Cell,Tumors, Islet Cell
D008113 Liver Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LIVER. Cancer of Liver,Hepatic Cancer,Liver Cancer,Cancer of the Liver,Cancer, Hepatocellular,Hepatic Neoplasms,Hepatocellular Cancer,Neoplasms, Hepatic,Neoplasms, Liver,Cancer, Hepatic,Cancer, Liver,Cancers, Hepatic,Cancers, Hepatocellular,Cancers, Liver,Hepatic Cancers,Hepatic Neoplasm,Hepatocellular Cancers,Liver Cancers,Liver Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Hepatic,Neoplasm, Liver
D008207 Lymphatic Metastasis Transfer of a neoplasm from its primary site to lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body by way of the lymphatic system. Lymph Node Metastasis,Lymph Node Metastases,Lymphatic Metastases,Metastasis, Lymph Node
D008297 Male Males
D010190 Pancreatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PANCREAS. Depending on the types of ISLET CELLS present in the tumors, various hormones can be secreted: GLUCAGON from PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS; INSULIN from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS; and SOMATOSTATIN from the SOMATOSTATIN-SECRETING CELLS. Most are malignant except the insulin-producing tumors (INSULINOMA). Cancer of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cancer,Cancer of the Pancreas,Neoplasms, Pancreatic,Pancreas Cancer,Pancreas Neoplasms,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinoma,Pancreatic Carcinoma,Acinar Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Acinar Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Cancer, Pancreas,Cancer, Pancreatic,Cancers, Pancreas,Cancers, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic Acinar,Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Carcinomas, Pancreatic Acinar,Neoplasm, Pancreas,Neoplasm, Pancreatic,Neoplasms, Pancreas,Pancreas Cancers,Pancreas Neoplasm,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinomas,Pancreatic Cancers,Pancreatic Carcinomas,Pancreatic Neoplasm
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D011384 Proinsulin A pancreatic polypeptide of about 110 amino acids, depending on the species, that is the precursor of insulin. Proinsulin, produced by the PANCREATIC BETA CELLS, is comprised sequentially of the N-terminal B-chain, the proteolytically removable connecting C-peptide, and the C-terminal A-chain. It also contains three disulfide bonds, two between A-chain and B-chain. After cleavage at two locations, insulin and C-peptide are the secreted products. Intact proinsulin with low bioactivity also is secreted in small amounts.
D002096 C-Peptide The middle segment of proinsulin that is between the N-terminal B-chain and the C-terminal A-chain. It is a pancreatic peptide of about 31 residues, depending on the species. Upon proteolytic cleavage of proinsulin, equimolar INSULIN and C-peptide are released. C-peptide immunoassay has been used to assess pancreatic beta cell function in diabetic patients with circulating insulin antibodies or exogenous insulin. Half-life of C-peptide is 30 min, almost 8 times that of insulin. Proinsulin C-Peptide,C-Peptide, Proinsulin,Connecting Peptide,C Peptide,C Peptide, Proinsulin,Proinsulin C Peptide
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D003981 Diazoxide A benzothiadiazine derivative that is a peripheral vasodilator used for hypertensive emergencies. It lacks diuretic effect, apparently because it lacks a sulfonamide group. Hyperstat,Proglycem

Related Publications

R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
October 1991, Zeitschrift fur die gesamte innere Medizin und ihre Grenzgebiete,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
March 1991, Klinicheskaia meditsina,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
January 1963, Revista de investigacion clinica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
May 1966, Die Medizinische Welt,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
November 1957, Neurology,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
February 1952, American journal of surgery,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
January 1953, Acta chirurgica Scandinavica,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
January 1985, Zentralblatt fur Chirurgie,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
January 1955, Canadian Medical Association journal,
R Wirsching, and F Spelsberg, and R Landgraf
June 1962, The Surgical clinics of North America,
Copied contents to your clipboard!