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[Adult nesidioblastosis]
Vítor A Branco1, Rui M Santos, M Augusta Cipriano
1Serviço de Medicina III, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra.
Acta Medica Portuguesa
|January 6, 2005
Summary
Endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in adults is usually caused by insulinoma. This case highlights pancreatic nesidioblastosis as a rare cause, diagnosed via arteriography and confirmed by histology after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in adults is typically caused by insulinoma.
- Diagnostic challenges arise when typical tests like prolonged fasting are negative.
Observation:
- A 29-year-old patient presented with recurrent postprandial symptomatic hypoglycemia.
- Prolonged fasting tests were negative, complicating the diagnosis.
- Arteriography guided a distal pancreatectomy.
Findings:
- Histological examination revealed pancreatic nesidioblastosis, not a tumor.
- This confirmed nesidioblastosis as the cause of hypoglycemia in this adult patient.
Implications:
- Pancreatic nesidioblastosis is a rare but important differential diagnosis for adult hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.
- Arteriography can be a valuable tool in diagnosing obscure cases.
- This case underscores the need to consider rare pathologies beyond insulinoma.