[Clinical picture and prognosis of insulinoma]

A case of insulinoma is reported, with initial malignant degeneration, diagnosed and operated 16 years ago. Six years later hypoglycemic attacks appeared again and lymph metastasis from malignant degenerated insulinoma were found near to the pancreas. After a period of eight years, in good health state, a third surgical operation was performed because of repeated hypoglycemic attacks and a new metastasis from the insulinoma was found in the pancreas tail. The patient has no hypoglycemic phenomena 18 months after the last operation. Besides that long-period of progress of the malignant degenerated insulinoma, not observed so far, certain peculiarities of the carbohydrate metabolism of the patient are stressed upon, as well as the necessity of early diagnosis and timely surgical treatment of insulinoma.