[Treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome]

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZE) is characterized by severe peptic ulcer disease, hypersecretion of gastric acid and gastrinoma of the pancreas. A 56-year-old woman with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss with ZE is presented. Large doses of H2 blockers were ineffective. At operation hepatic metastases from a gastrinoma were found and highly selective vagotomy (HSV) was performed. The combination of omeprazol and streptozotocin then lowered gastric secretion to normal. Conservative operation has included HSV or total gastrectomy. Medical treatment based on H2 blockers or omeprazol and chemotherapy are given as necessary.