CLINICAL ASPECTS, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF INSULINOMAS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Insulinomas are the leading cause of hypoglycemia related to endogenous hyperinsulinism. The classical diagnosis relies on Whipple's triad criteria. The presence of hypoglycemic symptoms with specific levels of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide, along with a negative sulfonylurea screening, is diagnostic for insulinoma. Currently, computed tomography (CT) is the first-line technique for visualizing insulinomas, replacing arteriography, and intraoperative ultrasound is useful for determining the ideal resection method. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for cure, with enucleation favored for tumors in the head, body, and tail of the pancreas, while duodenopancreatectomy is reserved for cases of malignant insulinomas or large benign tumors.