DOI: 10.12890/2015_000245
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia - a diagnostic challenge. A report of two atypical cases.
Authors
renatabhansen@gmail.com
Keywords
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia, insulinoma, glucagonoma, malignant insulinoma, nesidioblastosis.Abstract
Objectives: The authors describe 2 atypical cases of patients with hypoglycaemia, suspected for insulinoma.
Methods: The 2 reports are accompanied by a concise review of the literature.
Results: Patient 1 had a distal pancreatectomy performed for suspected insulinoma, and was diagnosed with a glucagonoma and beta-cell hyperplasia (nesidioblastosis). To the authors’s knowledge, co-existing glucagonoma and nesidioblastosis had not been previously reported.
Patient 2 was diagnosed with a benign insulinoma and 5 years later with metastatic disease.
Conclusion: The authors conclude that insulinomas are rare entities which often present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In such cases, patient referral to tertiary multidisciplinary centers is recommended.
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