Pancreatic insulinomas. A 15-year experience.

Abstract

To describe our experience in the management of patients with pancreatic insulinomas, emphasizing the need for preoperative localization and the outcome of surgical treatment. A case series. A university hospital in Hong Kong. From 1981 to 1995, 27 patients with pancreatic insulinomas were surgically treated; the mean follow-up was 25.4 months. Postoperative morbidity and euglycemia during the follow-up period. The accuracy of tumor localization by ultrasonography, computed tomography, and angiography was 33%, 44%, and 52%, respectively. Venous sampling for an insulin assay regionalized 90% of the tumors. In 24 patients with solitary tumors, most lesions detected or missed by preoperative localization could be either seen (n = 14) or palpated (n = 22). Intraoperative ultrasonography (n = 17) has been routinely performed since 1987; nonpalpable tumors were imaged in 2 of 15 patients with solitary tumors. Eight solitary occult tumors were detected by palpation alone or a combination of palpation and intraoperative ultrasonography. Operative mortality occurred in 1 (3.7%) of the 27 patients, while major morbidity developed in 9 (33%) of the patients. Euglycemia was achieved in 25 patients. Surgery cured all patients with benign insulinomas, whereas the cure rate for patients with malignant neoplasms was only 33%. The type of surgical treatment or correct preoperative localization did not affect the outcome of surgery. Pancreatic insulinomas can be readily localized intraoperatively despite failed preoperative localization studies. Surgical treatment cured benign adenomas but was associated with notable morbidity.