title: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Three cases of insulinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery for benign pancreatic disease has traditionally required a major laparotomy however the minimal-access approach is now being applied to a wide variety of procedures, and surgery of the pancreas need not be excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed on three patients presenting with insulinomas found on preoperative investigation to lie within the tail of the pancreas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patients had an excellent clinical outcome and returned to a state of normoglycemia. All of them made a rapid recovery with no major complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is a viable technique for removing insulinoma of the tail of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Norwich NR1 3SR, England, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed