Gastrinoma in childhood: case report and update on diagnosis and treatment

We report a case of gastrinoma in a child and review the literature on gastrinoma in childhood, particularly with regard to the clinical, laboratory, radiological and scintigraphic characteristics, therapeutic approaches and prognosis. An eleven-year-old boy with gastrinoma underwent surgical resection. One year later resection of the left lateral lobe of the liver was performed due to a liver metastasis. The boy has been followed up for four years since this last procedure. The outcome was satisfactory for one year after the primary resection and then for a further four years after resection of a liver metastasis. Based on our data and that of the literature, it is our opinion that gastrinoma should be considered as a potentially malignant disease. The best approach is an early diagnosis and surgical treatment through resection of the primary tumor, followed by periodic postoperative clinical, laboratory, radiological and scintigraphic evaluations, because of the risk of metastatic disease. Such metastases must be resected as soon as possible.