Insulinoma (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==Diseases with similar symptoms== | ==Diseases with similar symptoms== | ||
:*[[Hypoglycemia]] by other causes | |||
:*[[Seizures]] | |||
:*[[Stroke]] | |||
:*[[Schizophrenia]] or [[Hysteria]] | |||
==Where to find medical care for insulinoma?== | ==Where to find medical care for insulinoma?== | ||
Revision as of 14:45, 8 September 2009
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What is insulinoma?
An insulinoma is a benign tumor in the pancreas which is an organ in the abdomen that can make insulin to regulate blood sugar level. A patient of insulinoma can produce too much insulin. Patients may show a series of symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as anxiety, behavior changes, confusion, dizziness, headache and hunger. Treatments invlove surgery and medication.
How do I know if I have insulinoma and what are the symptoms of insulinoma?
Usual symptoms of insulinoma invlove a series of signs of hypoglycemia and other things:
- Rapid heart rate
Who is at risk for insulinoma?
The cause of insulinoma is not clear.
How to know you have insulinoma?
- Blood tests: The patient need to test the blood level of glucose, insulin and C-peptide, when suspected to diagnose insulinoma.
- Insulin suppression tests: This test is done to see whether insulin levels fail to suppress, which is a strong indicator of the presence of an insulin-secreting tumour.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans are often used to diagnose insulinoma. It can confirm the location of the tumor and show the organs near the pancreas.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if symptoms of insulinoma develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:
Treatment options
For patients with insulinoma, surgery is the definitive management. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities.
- Surgery: The surgical measure may involve surgical removal of the insulinoma and removing part of the pancreas such as Whipple procedure and distal pancreatectomy.
- Medication: For patients who may not accept surgery, medications such as diazoxide and somatostatin can be used to block the release of insulin.
Diseases with similar symptoms
- Hypoglycemia by other causes
Where to find medical care for insulinoma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating insulinoma