Solitary hepatic gastrinoma treated with laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation.
BACKGROUND
This is a case of a solitary hepatic gastrinoma in a 65-year-old male. The patient was diagnosed with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in 1991. He had negative radiologic and surgical explorations at that time. He was maintained on proton-pump inhibitors for the next 10 years without symptoms.


METHODS
A computed tomographic (CT) scan done in April 2001 demonstrated a 5-cm right hepatic lesion. Radionucleotide scanning with octreotide demonstrated intense activity in the same area in the right hepatic lobe. His serum gastrin was 317 pg/mL. He underwent laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of the lesion.


RESULTS
Treatment resulted in a 6-cm ablative area giving a 1-cm margin on the tumor. One- and 3-month follow-up CT scans demonstrated adequate ablation of the tumor. An octreotide scan done 3 months postoperatively did not reveal any areas of abnormal uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
We report success with laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation as an alternative to major hepatic resection in patients with a solitary hepatic gastrinoma.
Deol
Zöe K
ZK
Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA. zoedeol@msn.com
Frezza
Eldo
E
DeJong
Steven
S
Pickleman
Jack
J
D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D015408:Gastrinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male