Insulinoma: A Diagnostic Challenge!
Published: January 1, 2019 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2019/38279.12447
Janet Prameela D’Souza, Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues, Leena Sequira, Amanda Varghese
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nurisng, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
2. Professor, Department of Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
3. Principal, Manipal School of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
4. Student, Manipal College of Nurisng, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Correspondence
Dr. Janet Prameela D’Souza,
Assistant Professor, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education,
Madhava Nagar, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: janet.p@manipal.edu
Insulinoma is a common tumour arising from islets of Langerhans. Patients with insulinomas present with neuroglycopenic symptoms such as repeated episodes of headache, blurred vision, diplopia and lethargy especially with fasting or exercise. Seizures, coma and permanent brain damage results from severe hypoglycaemia. The present report is of a female who got admitted with the chief complaints of swaying on to one side since one month and slurring of speech, seizures and becoming drowsy for four days. Her laboratory values indicated repeated episodes of hypoglycaemia in spite of repeated administration of intravenous dextrose. A CT scan of pancreas revealed insulinoma and was treated by surgical resection. After surgery, patient’s symptoms subsided and she recovered well. The clinical manifestations of insulinoma mimic features of diabetes mellitus and neuropsychiatric disorders, hence a thorough investigation needs to be done to confirm the diagnosis.
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