[The clinical and therapeutic characteristics of a bulky gastrinoma]

The case of a 55-year-old woman with a duodenal ulcer developing since 6 months is reported, in whom the surgical indication was early established on the basis of increasing of suffering and inefficacy of the medical treatment. Intraoperatively an exophytic pancreatic tumour sited on the upper border of the isthmus, sized 5/6/4 cm, was found. In view of the suspicion of gastrinoma and considering that total gastrectomy or splenopancreatectomy would be excessive taking into account the patient's state, option was made for exeresis of the tumour. The ulcerous suffering disappeared and the histological examination of the specimen (weighting 70 g) confirmed a benign gastrinoma. The peculiarities of the case and data from the literature dealing with gastrinomas are discussed.