title: Successful preoperative localization of a small pancreatic insulinoma by diffusion-weighted MRI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulinoma is the most common functioning endocrine tumor of the pancreas responsible for fasting hypoglycemia resulting from autonomous insulin hypersecretion. Most insulinomas are small and difficult to localize with conventional imaging. We successfully localized a small insulinoma in our patient using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging before surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a female patient with a clinical suspicion of insulinoma. A preoperative MR with diffusion-weighted imaging was performed and localized a small nodule in the pancreatic tail. Treatment consisted of surgical enucleation. Histologic examination identified a neuroendocrine tumor compatible with an insulinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion-weighted imaging can be useful in detecting and localizing small insulinomas, especially for those with no hypervascular pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, University Clinics of Brussels, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. aanaye@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: Anass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anaye
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Closset
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Metens
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matos
mesh_terms: D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome