title: Early-phase thin-slice CT in the diagnosis of small insulinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulinomas, which are generally smaller than 2 cm, may be difficult to detect by routine imaging modalities including abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Although preoperative detection of insulinomas is essential for operative planning, it is often challenging due to their small size. While arterial stimulation and venous sampling has been used in patients with insulinomas it has been largely supplanted by early-phase thin-slice computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report three patients with insulinomas, which were not detected by routine computed tomography scan, but were successfully imaged using early-phase thin-slice computed tomography. Enucleation was performed in all patients based on preoperative imaging. All three patients had an unremarkable postoperative course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early-phase thin-slice computed tomography is recommended for the preoperative identification of insulinomas. This non-invasive imaging technique should be considered before performing arterial stimulation and venous sampling.
authors: Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University. Tochigi, Japan. sata@jichi.ac.jp.
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Ishioka
authors: Naohiro
authors: N
authors: Sata
authors: Yasunao
authors: Y
authors: Ishiguro
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Lefor
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Yasuda