Insulinoma – An imposter

Abstract

Pancreatic endocrine tumors are rare tumors. Most common of all functional PETS is insulinoma accounting about 60 % of all the cases. It presents with symptoms of hypoglycaemia resulting from neuroglycopenia and catecholamine excess because of the excess ectopic secretion of insulin from the tumor occurring characteristically in the fasting state. Here we report two patients of insulinoma , symptomatic for long time before diagnosis was established. Both presented with symptomatic hypoglycaemic episodes. Diagnosis of insulinoma was made with demonstration of endogenous hyperinsulinemia and tumor in pancreas on computed tomography. Both the cases were managed surgically and cured completely with no recurrence of symptoms