Gastrinoma

Gastrinoma
Classification and external resources
Micrograph of a neuroendocrine tumour of the stomach. H&E stain.
ICD-O:	M8153/1
DiseasesDB	14279
eMedicine	med/2678
MeSH	D015408

A gastrinoma is a tumor in the pancreas or duodenum that secretes excess of gastrin leading to ulceration in the duodenum, stomach and the small intestine. There is hypersecretion of the HCl in the duodenum which causes the ulcers. HCl also causes hyperperistalsis and inhibits the activity of lipase causing severe diarrhoea.

It is frequently the source of the gastrin in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

It is most commonly found in the duodenum (50-70%) and less commonly in the pancreas (20-40%). Those occurring in the pancreas have a greater potential for malignancy. Most gastrinomas are found in the gastrinoma triangle; this is bound by the junction of cystic and common bile ducts, junction of the second and third parts of the duodenum, and the junction of the neck and body of the pancreas.

Clinical Picture

Gastrinoma causes following symptoms:

• Hypergastrinaemia
• Ulcers of the duodenum, stomach, and small intestine.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Generalised cancer symptoms.

Diagnostics

1- Fasting Serum Gastrin. 2- In case of moderate hypergastrinemia, a secretin stimulation test can help in the dignosis.

Treatment

Treatment can involve surgery or proton pump inhibitors.

See also

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia#MEN type 1

External links

• -462749670 at GPnotebook
• USC
• Emedicine
• The Johns Hopkins University Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumor / Pancreatic Endocrine Neoplasms webpage