Insulinomas are rare tumors of the pancreas that produce excess insulin, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms include confusion, dizziness, and seizures. Insulinomas most commonly occur in adults ages 40-60 and are usually benign. Diagnosis involves blood tests during hypoglycemic episodes and imaging scans to locate tumors. Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment, while medications may help if the tumor cannot be fully removed.

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