Islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas presenting as bleeding from isolated gastric varices. Report of a case and review of the literature.
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage from left-sided portal hypertension and gastric varices is an unusual presentation for islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Islet cell tumors of the pancreas themselves are rare. They present in a variety of ways. Those that elaborate functional hormones cause specific neuroendocrine syndromes. Nonfunctional tumors characteristically present later with symptoms of metastatic disease or as a result of local enlargement. We present a case of islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas presenting with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding from gastric varices and review the literature for this rare presentation. We emphasize the importance of a careful initial diagnostic work-up that may enable curative surgery.
Metz
D C
DC
Division of Gastroenterology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007.
Benjamin
S B
SB
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography