Delay in the diagnosis of insulinomas.
The median diagnostic delay in 32 patients with verified insulinomas was 2 3/4 years (range 1/4--18). The median delay in the 1939--1958 period was shorter (2 years, n = 17) than in the 1959--1978 period (3 years, n = 15). Thus, modern developments with insulin estimations were without noticeable effect upon the diagnostic delay. The findings can probably only be explained by a poor awareness of the insulinoma syndrome in the medical profession.
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors