Insulinoma (patient information): Difference between revisions
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
==How to know you have insulinoma?== | ==How to know you have insulinoma?== | ||
:*Blood tests: The patient need to test the blood level of glucose, insulin and C-peptide, when suspected to diagnose insulinoma. | |||
:*Insulin suppression tests: This test is done to see whether insulin levels fail to suppress, which is a strong indicator of the presence of an insulin-secreting tumour. | |||
:*Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans are often used to diagnose insulinoma. It can confirm the location of the tumor and show the organs near the pancreas. | |||
:*Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture. | |||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 8 September 2009
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-in-Chief: Jinhui Wu, MD Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
What is insulinoma?
An insulinoma is a benign tumor in the pancreas which is an organ in the abdomen that can make insulin to regulate blood sugar level. A patient of insulinoma can produce too much insulin. Patients may show a series of symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as anxiety, behavior changes, confusion, dizziness, headache and hunger. Treatments invlove surgery and medication.
How do I know if I have insulinoma and what are the symptoms of insulinoma?
Usual symptoms of insulinoma invlove a series of signs of hypoglycemia and other things:
- Hunger
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety
- Behavior changes
- Clouded vision
- Convulsions
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Confusion, even loss of consciousness
- Tremor
- Weight gain
Who is at risk for insulinoma?
The cause of insulinoma is not clear.
How to know you have insulinoma?
- Blood tests: The patient need to test the blood level of glucose, insulin and C-peptide, when suspected to diagnose insulinoma.
- Insulin suppression tests: This test is done to see whether insulin levels fail to suppress, which is a strong indicator of the presence of an insulin-secreting tumour.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans are often used to diagnose insulinoma. It can confirm the location of the tumor and show the organs near the pancreas.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for insulinoma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating insulinoma