Insulinoma in childhood: clinical, radiological, molecular and histological aspects of nine patients

Analysis of Bone Phenotype Differences in MEN1-Related and Sporadic Primary Hyperparathyroidism Using 3D-DXA

Background: The rarity and variability of MEN1-related primary hyperparathyroidism (mPHPT) has led to contradictory data regarding the bone phenotype in this patient population. Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted among young age- and sex-matched patients with mPHPT and sporadic hyperparathyroidism (sPHPT). The main parameters of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, bone remodeling markers, and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were obtained during the active phase of hyperparathyroidism before parathyroidectomy (PTE) and 1 year after. Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) and 3D-DXA analysis of the proximal femur were used to evaluate the differences in bone architecture disruption between groups. Results: Patients with mPHPT had significant lower preoperative BMD compared to sPHPT at lumbar spine-LS (p = 0.002); femur neck-FN (p = 0.001); and total hip-TH (p = 0.002). 3D-DXA analysis showed the prevalence of cortical rather than trabecular bone damage in mPHPT compared to sPHPT: cortical thickness (p < 0.001); cortical surface BMD (p = 0.001); cortical volumetric BMD (p = 0.007); and trabecular volumetric BMD (p = 0.029). One year after, PTE DXA and 3D-DXA parameters were similar between groups, while 3D-visualisation showed more extensive regeneration in cortical sBMD and cortical thickness in mPHPT. Conclusions: mPHPT is associated with lower preoperative BMD values with predominant architecture disruption in the cortical bone. The absence of differences in DXA and 3D-DXA parameters 1 year after PTE between mPHPT/sPHPT combined with significantly lower BMD in mPHPT at the initial stage may indicate faster bone recovery after surgery in mPHPT than in sPHPT.

Pancreatic masses in children: a single-center experience over two decades

Pancreatic masses are extremely rare in pediatric patients, with limited data available. This lack of data makes the diagnosis and management of these tumors in children extremely challenging. Therefore, we aimed to describe the presentations, clinical course, and outcomes of children with pancreatic tumors at our center. A retrospective analysis was performed of all pediatric patients diagnosed with pancreatic masses between 2003 and 2022 in an academic freestanding children's hospital. Data including demographics, clinical presentation, workup, management, and subsequent morbidity and mortality were collected and aggregated. Furthermore, we reviewed cases of pancreatic tumor resections in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program - Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database to identify common adverse outcomes and measures for quality improvement. In total, 17 patients were identified at our institution. Diagnoses included solid pseudopapillary (n = 9), gastrinoma (n = 1), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 2), pancreatoblastoma (n = 2), and insulinoma (n = 1). Two patients did not have a histopathologic diagnosis and were excluded from subsequent analysis. Overall, 12 patients underwent surgical intervention, with the most common procedures being pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy, and all 12 were known to be alive at last contact. There were 3 deaths, all due to complications related to metastatic disease. Furthermore, 30-day postoperative outcomes in the NSQIP-P dataset for pancreatic surgeries in pediatric patients are excellent, with negligible morbidity and no mortalities after the index surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with pancreatic tumors amenable to surgical resection appear to have adequate long-term survival. Short-term outcomes at diagnosis are excellent and mainly appear to be influenced by the presence of metastatic disease at initial presentation.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Pancreatic masses are a rare entity in children with limited data on their presentation, management and surgical outcomes. • Solid Pseudopapillary tumors are one of the most common pancreatic tumors in children with a fair prognosis after surgical intervention.

WHAT IS NEW

• Surgical management of pediatric patients with pancreatic tumors is safe and effective in patients who do not have aggressive tumor types or metastatic disease. • Our case series provides a notable cohort of these pancreatic tumors with insight into the presentation, management and outcomes of five of these tumor types.

Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Due to an Insulinoma in a 2-Year-Old Child

Insulinomas are rare insulin-secreting tumors that most commonly affect adults. A 26-month-old child presented to her local emergency department with severe hypoglycemia. Initial workup was consistent with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Over the course of 10 months, multiple therapies for hyperinsulinism (HI) were trialed without significant benefit. Genetic testing for genes associated with HI was negative. At age 35 months, the patient was transferred to our center for further treatment. She underwent several imaging tests that revealed a lesion on her pancreas concerning for an insulinoma. The patient underwent surgical intervention to enucleate the lesion. Histopathological review of the specimen confirmed a benign, well-circumscribed insulinoma. A postoperative fasting test proved the patient was cured and she was discharged without the need for further glucose monitoring.

International Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Hyperinsulinism

BACKGROUND

Hyperinsulinism (HI) due to dysregulation of pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion is the most common and most severe cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infants and children. In the 65 years since HI in children was first described, there has been a dramatic advancement in the diagnostic tools available, including new genetic techniques and novel radiologic imaging for focal HI; however, there have been almost no new therapeutic modalities since the development of diazoxide.

SUMMARY

Recent advances in neonatal research and genetics have improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of both transient and persistent forms of neonatal hyperinsulinism. Rapid turnaround of genetic test results combined with advanced radiologic imaging can permit identification and localization of surgically-curable focal lesions in a large proportion of children with congenital forms of HI, but are only available in certain centers in "developed" countries. Diazoxide, the only drug currently approved for treating HI, was recently designated as an "essential medicine" by the World Health Organization but has been approved in only 16% of Latin American countries and remains unavailable in many under-developed areas of the world. Novel treatments for HI are emerging, but they await completion of safety and efficacy trials before being considered for clinical use.

KEY MESSAGES

This international consensus statement on diagnosis and management of HI was developed in order to assist specialists, general pediatricians, and neonatologists in early recognition and treatment of HI with the ultimate aim of reducing the prevalence of brain injury caused by hypoglycemia. A previous statement on diagnosis and management of HI in Japan was published in 2017. The current document provides an updated guideline for management of infants and children with HI and includes potential accommodations for less-developed regions of the world where resources may be limited.

Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Diagnosed in Childhood Can Be Monogenic

CONTEXT

Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion despite low blood glucose. Persistent HI is often monogenic, with the majority of cases diagnosed in infancy. Less is known about the contribution of monogenic forms of disease in those presenting in childhood.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the likelihood of finding a genetic cause in childhood-onset HI and explored potential factors leading to later age at presentation of disease.

METHODS

We screened known disease-causing genes in 1848 individuals with HI, referred for genetic testing as part of routine clinical care. Individuals were classified as infancy-onset (diagnosed with HI < 12 months of age) or childhood-onset (diagnosed at age 1-16 years). We assessed clinical characteristics and the genotypes of individuals with monogenic HI diagnosed in childhood to gain insights into the later age at diagnosis of HI in these children.

RESULTS

We identified the monogenic cause in 24% (n = 42/173) of the childhood-onset HI cohort; this was significantly lower than the proportion of genetic diagnoses in infancy-onset cases (74.5% [n = 1248/1675], P < 0.00001). Most (75%) individuals with genetically confirmed childhood-onset HI were diagnosed before 2.7 years, suggesting these cases represent the tail end of the normal distribution in age at diagnosis. This is supported by the finding that 81% of the variants identified in the childhood-onset cohort were detected in those diagnosed in infancy.

CONCLUSION

We have shown that monogenic HI is an important cause of hyperinsulinism presenting outside of infancy. Genetic testing should be considered in children with persistent hyperinsulinism, regardless of age at diagnosis.

Insulinoma in childhood: a retrospective review of 22 patients from one referral centre

Background

Insulinomas are very rare in childhood with sparse knowledge on the clinical aspects and the presence of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with insulinoma between 1995 and 2021, presenting to one referral centre in Russia. Clinical, biochemical, genetic, imaging and histological data were collected. In addition, follow-up and family data were obtained.

Results

A total of twenty-two children aged 5 to 16 years were identified. The median (range) gap between the first hypoglycaemia symptoms and diagnosis was 10 (1-46) months. Twelve children (55%) were misdiagnosed to have epilepsy and were treated with anticonvulsants before hypoglycemia was revealed. Contrast enhanced MRI and/or CT were accurate to localize the lesion in 82% (n=18). Five patients (23%) had multiple pancreatic lesions. All children underwent surgical treatment. The median (range) diameter of removed tumors was 1.5 (0.3-6) cm. Histopathological studies confirmed the presence of insulinoma in all cases. Immunohistochemical studies revealed G2 differentiation grade in 10 out of 17 cases. Two patients were diagnosed with metastatic insulinoma. One of them had metastases at the time of insulinoma diagnosis, while the other was diagnosed with liver metastases eight years after the surgery. Eight children (36%) were found to carry MEN1 mutations, inherited n=5, de novo n=1, no data, n=2. Children with MEN1 had significantly higher number of pancreatic tumors compared to sporadic cases. All of them developed additional MEN1 symptoms during the following 2-13 years. In the five patients with inherited MEN1, seven family members had hitherto undiscovered MEN1 manifestations.

Conclusions

In this large cohort of children with rare pediatric insulinomas, MEN1 syndrome and G2 tumors were frequent, as well as hitherto undiscovered MEN1 manifestations in family members. Our data emphasize the need of genetic testing in all children with insulinoma and their relatives, even in the absence of any other features, as well as the importance of a prolonged follow-up observation.

Pediatric Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Rare Malignancies with Incredible Variability

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) encompass a variety of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) which can arise anywhere in the body. While relatively rare in the pediatric population, the incidence of NENs has increased in the past few decades. These neoplasms can be devastating if not diagnosed and treated early, however, symptoms are variable and can be indolent for many years. There is a reported median of 10 years from the appearance of the first symptoms to time of diagnosis. Considering some of these neoplasms have a mortality rate as high as 90%, it is crucial healthcare providers are aware of NENs and remain vigilant. With better provider education and easily accessible resources for information about these neoplasms, awareness can be improved leading to earlier disease recognition and diagnosis. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of both the most common NENs as well as the rarer NENs with high lethality in the pediatric population. This review provides up to date evidence and recommendations, encompassing recent changes in classification and advances in treatment modalities, including recently completed and ongoing clinical trials.

Recurrent Hypoglycemia in Baby with Insulinoma: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Insulinoma is a functional neuroendocrine tumor in the pancreas that can cause hypoglycemia due to endogenic hyperinsulinism. Insulinoma is a rare case with an incidence of 1–4 cases per million people each year. Insulinoma can occur at various ages and mostly occurs in adults with a predominance in women. CASE REPORT: A baby boy aged 1 month 23 days was referred from Prof. Dr. W. Z. Johannes Hospital with the chief complaint was seizures. The results of the examination of blood glucose levels at Sanglah Hospital were 28 mg/dl. There were some episodes of normal blood glucose level in the patient after having some doses of glucose infusion therapy. However, it was only for a while, the blood glucose level came back low and induced the symptoms of the seizure (neuroglycopenia). The seizures stopped after having anticonvulsant therapy and blood glucose levels within normal limits. These symptoms were consistent with the Whipple triad in insulinoma. The patient has an elevated insulin level (92 IU/ml). Computed tomography scan of the abdomen with contrast showed a mass in the caudal part of the pancreas. The patient underwent a partial pancreatectomy. Histomorphology features showed pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors without metastases. Immunohistochemical results of Ki-67 showed well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors grade 2. CONCLUSION: Based on clinical, physical examination, laboratory, and radiology findings, the patient was diagnosed with recurrent hypoglycemia due to insulinoma and improved with partial pancreatectomy.

Technical aspects of paediatric robotic pancreatic enucleation based on a case of an insulinoma

BACKGROUND

Insulinomas are rare insulin-producing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours leading to severe episodes of hypoglycaemia. Surgery is the predominant curative therapy.

METHODS

We report here the first paediatric case of an insulinoma of the pancreatic body resected completely robotically under ultrasound guidance in a 10-year-old male with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. The port set-up was adapted for the narrowed dimensions of the paediatric peritoneal space. We comment on technical key steps for the organ-preserving procedure that was performed in close proximity to critical anatomic structures, with supporting video. Preoperative diagnostics, including endoscopic ultrasound, to determine surgical management are highlighted.

RESULTS

Following an uneventful post-operative course, the boy was discharged on day 11 with normalised glucose-metabolism. A pseudocyst developing after 4 weeks was treated with endoscopic stenting.

CONCLUSIONS

The applicability of a robotic surgical system in limited space conditions such as found in the paediatric abdominal cavity is demonstrated here for pancreatic surgery.

Case Report: A Difficult-to-Diagnose Case of Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Surgically Treated After Developing Acute Pancreatitis

The patient is a 28-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with severe congenital hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemia six months after birth. Clinical records revealed no imaging evidence of pancreatic tumor at the time of diagnosis. Subsequently, he had developmental disorders and epilepsy caused by recurrent hypoglycemic attacks. The patient's hypoglycemia improved with oral diazoxide. However, he developed necrotizing acute pancreatitis at 28 years of age, thought to be due to diazoxide. Discontinuation of diazoxide caused persistent hypoglycemia, requiring continuous glucose supplementation by tube feeding and total parenteral nutrition. A selective arterial secretagogue injection test revealed diffuse pancreatic hypersecretion of insulin. He underwent subtotal distal (72%) pancreatectomy and splenectomy. There was no intraoperative visible pancreatic tumor. His hypoglycemia improved after the surgical procedure. The histopathological study revealed a high density of islets of Langerhans in the pancreatic body and tail. There were large islets of Langerhans and multiple neuroendocrine cell nests in the whole pancreas. Nests of neuroendocrine cells were also detected in lymph nodes. The pathological diagnosis was grade 1 neuroendocrine tumor (microinsulinomas) with lymph node metastases. This patient is a difficult-to-diagnose case of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia surgically treated after developing acute pancreatitis. We believe this is a unique case of microinsulinomas with lymph metastases diagnosed and treated as congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia for almost 28 years.

Somatostatin analogues for the treatment of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia

Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a biochemical finding of low blood glucose levels due to the dysregulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Under normal physiological conditions, glucose metabolism is coupled to β-cell insulin secretion so that blood glucose levels are maintained within the physiological range of 3.5-5.5 mmol/L. However, in HH this coupling of glucose metabolism to insulin secretion is perturbed so that insulin secretion becomes unregulated. HH typically occurs in the neonatal, infancy and childhood periods and can be due to many different causes. Adults can also present with HH but the causes in adults tend to be different. Somatostatin (SST) is a peptide hormone that is released by the delta cells (δ-cells) in the pancreas. It binds to G protein-coupled SST receptors to regulate a variety of location-specific and selective functions such as hormone inhibition, neurotransmission and cell proliferation. SST plays a potent role in the regulation of both insulin and glucagon secretion in response to changes in glucose levels by negative feedback mechanism. The half-life of SST is only 1-3 min due to quick degradation by peptidases in plasma and tissues. Thus, a direct continuous intravenous or subcutaneous infusion is required to achieve the therapeutic effect. These limitations prompted the discovery of SST analogues such as octreotide and lanreotide, which have longer half-lives and therefore can be administered as injections. SST analogues are used to treat different forms of HH in children and adults and therapeutic effect is achieved by suppressing insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells by complex mechanisms. These treatments are associated with several side effects, especially in the newborn period, with necrotizing enterocolitis being the most serious side effect and hence SS analogues should be used with extreme caution in this age group.

Unravelling the genetic causes of mosaic islet morphology in congenital hyperinsulinism

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes dysregulated insulin secretion which can lead to life‐threatening hypoglycaemia if not effectively managed. CHI can be sub‐classified into three distinct groups: diffuse, focal and mosaic pancreatic disease. Whilst the underlying causes of diffuse and focal disease have been widely characterised, the genetic basis of mosaic pancreatic disease is not known. To gain new insights into the underlying disease processes of mosaic‐CHI we studied the islet tissue histopathology derived from limited surgical resection from the tail of the pancreas in a patient with CHI. The underlying genetic aetiology was investigated using a combination of high depth next‐generation sequencing, microsatellite analysis and p57kip2 immunostaining. Histopathology of the pancreatic tissue confirmed the presence of a defined area associated with marked islet hypertrophy and a cytoarchitecture distinct from focal CHI but compatible with mosaic CHI localised to a discrete region within the pancreas. Analysis of DNA extracted from the lesion identified a de novo mosaic ABCC8 mutation and mosaic paternal uniparental disomy which were not present in leukocyte DNA or the surrounding unaffected pancreatic tissue. This study provides the first description of two independent disease‐causing somatic genetic events occurring within the pancreas of an individual with localised mosaic CHI. Our findings increase knowledge of the genetic causes of islet disease and provide further insights into the underlying developmental changes associated with β‐cell expansion in CHI.

Insulinoma: A Rare Cause of Hypoglycemia in Childhood

Patient: Male, 11

Final Diagnosis: Insulinoma

Symptoms: Dizziness • psychological issues

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Endocrinology and Metabolic

Robotic enucleation for pediatric insulinoma with MEN1 syndrome: a case report and literature review

Background

A patient with a rare pediatric insulinoma and MEN1 syndrome was treated by robotic enucleation surgery.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 9-year-old girl presenting with repeated loss of consciousness, concomitant with a pale face, palpitations, and convulsions, which had persisted for 2 years and had been aggravated during the previous 2 months. She was previously misdiagnosed with epilepsy in another hospital. We further examined her while she was hospitalized. By combining her medical history and imaging examination and lab test results, a diagnosis of insulinoma was confirmed. Sanger-directed sequencing on a peripheral blood sample revealed an MEN1 gene mutation, indicating pediatric insulinoma with MEN1 syndrome. The patient underwent minimally invasive insulinoma enucleation surgery under the Da Vinci robot-assisted system with intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) connected. The surgery was successfully completed within 65 min, and the girl recovered well postoperatively and no longer experienced symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Conclusion

This is the first report of a case of pediatric insulinoma treated using robotic enucleation. This experience demonstrates the feasibility and safety of combining robotic surgery with the enucleation procedure as an excellent strategy for pediatric insulinoma.

Severe insulin resistance in disguise: A familial case of reactive hypoglycemia associated with a novel heterozygous INSR mutation

AIM

Hypoglycemia in childhood is very rare and can be caused by genetic mutations or insulin-secreting neoplasms. Postprandial hypoglycemia has previously been associated with insulin receptor (INSR) gene mutations. We aimed to identify the cause of postprandial hypoglycemia in a 10-year-old boy.

SUBJECTS

We studied the symptomatic proband and his apparently asymptomatic mother and elder brother. All of them were lean.

METHODS

Metabolic screening of the proband included a 5-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), angio-magnetic resonance imaging, and ¹⁸ F-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of the pancreas. INSR gene sequencing and in vitro functional studies of a novel INSR mutation were also undertaken.

RESULTS

Fasting hyperinsulinemia was detected during metabolic screening, and 5-hour OGTT showed hypoglycemia at 240' in the proband, his mother, and brother. Pancreatic imaging showed no evidence of neoplasia. Acanthosis nigricans with high fasting insulin levels in the proband suggested severe insulin resistance and prompted INSR gene sequencing, which revealed the novel, heterozygous p.Phe1213Leu mutation in the patient and his family members. In vitro studies showed that this mutation severely impairs insulin receptor function by abolishing tyrosine kinase activity and downstream insulin signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of etiological cause of hypoglycemia in childhood may be challenging. The combination of fasting hyperinsulinemia with acanthosis nigricans in a lean subject with hypoglycemia suggests severe insulin resistance and warrants INSR gene screening.

Insulinoma masquerading as a loss of consciousness in a teenage girl: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia due to a pancreatic beta cell neoplasm - insulinoma, is uncommon with only a few cases described. We report on a previously healthy 15-year-old Hispanic female with insulinoma who presented with a loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia unawareness.

CASE PRESENTATION

EM was first brought to the emergency department (ED) after she was found unresponsive at home with point of care (POC) glucose of 29 mg/dL(1.6 mmol/L) documented by emergency medical services (EMS) upon arrival. After treatment with dextrose and normal laboratory evaluation, including complete blood count, basal metabolic profile and urine drug screen, she was sent home with recommendations to follow-up the next day with an endocrinologist. Due to insurance issues, the family did not keep the appointment. Two days later, she returned to the ED with POC of 19 mg/dL (1.05 mmol/L). Detailed history review identified vague fatigue, excessive sleepiness, poor oral intake and weight gain for a 2-3 month period and no suspicion for drug, alcohol or prescription medication abuse. Family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia was negative. Physical examination revealed mild acanthosis nigricans and a body mass index of 32.8 kg/m² (98th percentile). Laboratory evaluation showed elevated insulin with low cortisol and growth hormone levels at the time of hypoglycemia. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pancreatic mass, also supported by ultrasound, computed tomography and positron emission tomography scans. The patient underwent a partial pancreatectomy with removal of a well-circumscribed insulinoma from the anterior-superior aspect of the pancreatic neck confirmed by histology. Hypoglycemia resolved post-operatively and she remained euglycemic during a 48-h cure fast. At her 3-month follow-up visit, she had no symptoms of hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSION

Documented hypoglycemia in an otherwise healthy adolescent should be fully investigated before discharging a patient. Even a short duration of symptoms should prompt, in-depth diagnostic evaluations to rule out a potentially life threatening diagnosis of insulinoma.

Recurrent insulinoma in a 10-year-old boy with Down's syndrome

An insulinoma is a rare tumour with an incidence of four cases per million per year in adults. The incidence in children is not established. There is limited literature available in children with insulinoma, and only one case is reported in association with Down’s syndrome in adults. Insulinoma diagnosis is frequently missed in adults as well as in children. The Whipple triad is the most striking feature although it has limited application in young children. Hypoglycaemia with elevated insulin, C-peptide and absent ketones is highly suggestive of hyperinsulinism. We present a case of 10-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome with recurrent insulinoma. He was initially misdiagnosed as having an adrenal insufficiency and developed cushingoid features and obesity secondary to hydrocortisone treatment and excessive sugar intake. The tumour was successfully localised in the head of the pancreas with an MRI and octreotide scan on first presentation. Medical treatment with diazoxide and octreotide could not achieve normal blood glucose levels. The insulinoma was laparoscopically enucleated and pathological examination confirmed a neuroendocrine tumour. Subsequently, he had complete resolution of symptoms. He had a recurrence after 2 years with frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia. The biochemical workup was suggestive of hyperinsulinism. MRI and PET scan confirmed the recurrence at the same site (head of the pancreas). He had an open laparotomy for insulinoma resection. The pathology was consistent with benign insulinoma, and subsequently, he had complete resolution of symptoms.

Sporadic Insulinoma as a Rare Cause of Recurrent Hypoglycemia in Children

Insulinoma is a rare pancreatic tumor in children and adolescents. As a result of insulin hypersecretion, signs and symptoms are more commonly consequences of the pathophysiologic responses to hypoglycemia. According to rarity of this tumor in children and nonspecificity of clinical presentations, diagnosis of insulinoma in this group of patients is usually delayed. Early diagnosis is very important for preventing neurologic damage. In this case report, we present the case of a 10-year-old boy with signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and final diagnosis of insulinoma.

Cross sectional and nuclear medicine imaging of pancreatic insulinomas

Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors which occur predominantly in the pancreas. Although majority of the insulinomas are benign, over-secretion of insulin by the tumor leads to debilitating hypoglycemic symptoms. The diagnosis is based on clinical and biochemical findings. After the diagnosis is made, the principal challenge lies in locating the tumor because most tumors are solitary and small in size. Locating the tumor is of paramount importance as complete surgical excision is the only curative treatment, and incomplete resection leads to persistence of symptoms. Different preoperative and intraoperative imaging techniques have been used with varying success rates for the insulinoma imaging. Besides localizing the tumor, imaging also helps to guide biopsy, detect metastatic lesions, and perform image-guided therapeutic procedures. This review will discuss the role of different Cross sectional and nuclear medicine imaging modalities in insulinomas.

Vague neuroglycopenic complaints camouflage diagnosis of adolescent insulinoma: a case report

Background

Insulinoma is a rare diagnosis in the general population with estimates of 1 in 250,000 people per year. Reports of these pancreatic islet cell tumors are even more unusual in children and adolescents. Chronic hypoglycemia due to an insulinoma often presents with neuroglycopenic symptoms that can easily be overlooked, especially in adolescents where nonspecific complaints are common. This may result in delayed diagnosis with prolonged periods of untreated hypoglycemia and associated complications. The rarity of pediatric insulinoma, vagueness of presenting symptoms, and challenge of tumor localization make insulinoma a true diagnostic quandary for clinicians.

Case Presentation

In this report, we present a 15-year-old female who visited her primary care provider complaining of intermittent episodes of altered mental status including fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration. Her outpatient management included routine laboratory studies, drug screening, electroencephalogram (EEG), valproic acid initiation, CT scan of the abdomen, and endoscopic ultrasound with documentation of hypoglycemia, but otherwise inconclusive results. The patient was admitted to a tertiary children’s hospital with severe refractory hypoglycemia 8 months after the initial evaluation. A serum critical sample was obtained and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen performed which confirmed the presence of a pancreatic mass ultimately identified as an insulinoma. She went on to have surgical resection of her tumor resulting in complete resolution of her hypoglycemia and associated symptoms.

Conclusion

Within this report we demonstrate the importance of being vigilant for fasting hypoglycemia secondary to insulinoma even when the patient presents with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, or problems with concentration. If these neuroglycopenic complaints are unnoticed or misdiagnosed, patients with a potentially curable disease are put at risk of neurologic injury, or even death, due to untreated severe hypoglycemia.

Spontaneous hypoglycemia: diagnostic evaluation and management

Spontaneous hypoglycemia is a puzzling clinical problem and an important reason for referral to endocrinologists. Several clinical conditions such as insulinomas, non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome, insulin autoimmune syndrome, postprandial hypoglycemia (reactive hypoglycemia), non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia, primary adrenal insufficiency, hypopituitarism, and critical illness can be associated with spontaneous hypoglycemia. Rarely, in patients with mental health issues, factious hypoglycemia from extrinsic insulin use or ingestion of oral hypoglycemic agents can obfuscate the clinical picture for clinicians trying to identify an organic cause. In those presenting with Whipple's triad (symptoms ± signs of hypoglycemia, low plasma glucose, and resolution symptoms ± signs after hypoglycemia correction), a 72-h supervised fast test with measurement of plasma insulin, c-peptide, pro-insulin, and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels, coupled with plasma/urine sulphonylurea screen, forms the first step in diagnostic evaluation. A mixed meal test is preferable for those with predominantly postprandial symptoms. Additional non-invasive and/or invasive diagnostic evaluation is necessary if an organic hypoglycemic disorder is suspected. With the aid of a few brief clinical case scenarios, we discuss the diagnostic evaluation and management of spontaneous hypoglycemia through this comprehensive article.

Histologic and Molecular Profile of Pediatric Insulinomas: Evidence of a Paternal Parent-of-Origin Effect

CONTEXT

Acquired insulinomas are rare causes of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in children and are much less common than focal lesions of congenital hyperinsulinism. The latter are known to be associated with isodisomy for paternally transmitted ATP-sensitive potassium channel mutations on 11p15; however, the molecular basis for pediatric insulinomas is not well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to characterize the histopathological and molecular defects in a large group of 12 pediatric insulinomas seen at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

RESULTS

Twelve children with insulinomas were seen between 1971 and 2013, compared to 201 cases with focal congenital hyperinsulinism seen between 1997 and 2014. The age of insulinoma patients ranged from 4-16 years at the time of surgery. Features of MEN1 syndrome were present in five of the 12, including four cases with heterozygous mutations of MEN1 on 11q. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed nuclear loss of p57 staining consistent with loss of the maternal 11p15 allele in 11 of the 12 insulinomas, including all five MEN1-associated tumors. Imbalance of the paternal 11p allele was confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and methylation assays of the 11p imprinting control loci in four of five MEN1-associated tumors and six of seven sporadic insulinomas. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping revealed extensive tumor aneuploidy beyond chromosome 11.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that MEN1 mutations are more common in insulinomas in children than in adults. Aneuploidy of chromosome 11 and other chromosomes is common in both MEN1 and non-MEN1 insulinomas. The novel observation of a paternal parent-of-origin effect in all MEN1 and most non-MEN1 tumors suggests a critical role for imprinted growth-regulatory genes in the 11p region in the genesis of β-cell endocrine tumors in children.

Strengths and limitations of using 18fluorine-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine PET/CT for congenital hyperinsulinism

¹⁸fluorine-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (FDOPA) PET/CT is currently the first-line imaging technique to distinguish between focal and diffuse forms of congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) and to accurately localize focal forms. However, this technique has a number of limitations, mainly the very small size of focal forms or inversely a very large focal form mimicking a diffuse form, and misinterpretation of physiologic uptake masking hot spots or inversely mimicking focal forms. The other limitation is the limited availability of the radiopharmaceutical. FDOPA PET/CT has no recognized competitor to date among the available morphologic and functional imaging techniques. Other potential approaches using specific tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) are discussed, using radiopharmaceuticals specific for β cell mass or targeting somatostatin receptors. These radiopharmaceuticals can be labeled with gallium-68, a PET emitter readily available in PET centers equipped with 68Ge/68Ga generators.