J Korean Diabetes.  2013 Jun;14(2):98-101. 10.4093/jkd.2013.14.2.98.

A Case of Insulinoma with Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea. es10@unitel.co.kr
  • 2Department of General Surgery, Ulsan University Hospital, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pathology, Ulsan University Hospital, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
  • 4Department of Neurology, Ulsan University Hospital, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.

Abstract

A 47-year-old male with recurrent abnormal behavior for ten years was referred to our clinic. He was diagnosed with insulinoma and cognitive dysfunction. Persistent hypoglycemia leads to a high risk of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic patients. However, cognitive dysfunction associated with insulinoma is rare. In this case study, cognitive dysfunction was confirmed by neurological testing.

Keyword

Insulinoma; Hypoglycemia; Encephalopathy

MeSH Terms

Humans
Hypoglycemia
Insulinoma
Male

Figure

  • Fig. 1. (A) Pancreas computed tomography scan showing an enhanced 8-mm nodule in the superior aspect of the pancreas body. (B) Transhepatic portal venous sampling revealed an elevated serum insulin level (662.7 μU/mL) in the body of the pancreas.

  • Fig. 2. Microscopically, the tumor showed a solid, trabecular, and gyriform growth pattern. The tumor cells had small and relatively uniform nuclei with a granular cytoplasm. Hyalinized stroma with calcification are seen (H&E, x200).


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