Insulinoma-associated transient hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment and amelioration by steroid therapy and surgical intervention: a case report.
Insulinoma is the most common functional tumor among pancreatic islet cell tumors. This type of tumor is difficult to localize prior to surgery and can lead to serious hypoglycemia. This paper presents the case of a young female who suffered from insulinoma associated with transient hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment. To localize her insulinoma, we used two alternative testing methods, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and selective arterial calcium stimulation with venous sampling, after a failure of conventional imaging methods. We treated her adrenal insufficiency and prevented serious hypoglycemia by giving her prednisolone. The impairment in her hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and her serious hypoglycemia recovered after excision of the tumor.
Chang
Yu-Hung
YH
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Shin-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Ming-Chia
MC
Hsin
Shih-Chieh
SC
Shin
Shyi-Jang
SJ
Lin
Kun-Der
KD
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011239:Prednisolone