Pancreatic islet cell tumor
Alternative Names
Islet cell tumors; Islet of Langerhans tumor; Neuroendocrine tumorsSymptoms
Symptoms are caused by the hormone the tumor is producing. For example, an insulinoma may produce too much insulin, leading to very low blood sugar levels.
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Anxiety
- Behavior changes
- Clouding of vision
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Hunger
- Inflamed mouth and tongue
- Loss of consciousness
- Peptic ulcer pain
- Rapid heart rate
- Skin rash that moves on the face, abdomen, buttocks, or feet
- May be crusty and scaly
- May have raised sores filled with clear fluid or pus
- Sweating
- Tremor
- Vomiting blood
- Weight gain (unintentional)
- Weight loss
Exams and Tests
Tests may vary depending upon the symptoms. The following tests may be performed:
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Fasting glucose level
- Gastrin level
- Gucose tolerance test
- Intraductal endoscopic ultrasound
- MRI of abdomen
- Sampling the vein drainage of segments of the pancreas
- Secretin stimulation test for pancreas
- Serum glucagon level
- Serum insulin C-peptide
- Serum insulin level
Occasionally, surgery is needed to diagnose and treat this condition. During this procedure, the surgeon feels the pancreas and may use ultrasound probes.
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