Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head
05:42

Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head

Published on: January 3, 2020

Malignant insulinoma in a child

Waleed Janem1, Iyad Sultan, Fatena Ajlouni

  • 1Department of Pediatric Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|September 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Malignant insulinomas are rare, especially in children. This case report details a 12-year-old with metastatic malignant insulinoma, highlighting diagnostic and management challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Tumor Biology

Background:

  • Insulinomas are rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Malignant insulinomas are uncommon, with <10% of cases showing malignancy.
  • Malignant insulinomas in children are exceptionally rare, with only nine reported cases.

Observation:

  • This report presents a case of a 12-year-old child diagnosed with metastatic malignant insulinoma.
  • The patient exhibited an unusual pattern of metastases, posing diagnostic and therapeutic complexities.
  • Management of severe hypoglycemia associated with the tumor presented significant clinical challenges.

Findings:

  • The case underscores the rarity of malignant insulinoma in pediatric populations.
  • The unusual metastatic pattern observed in this child deviates from typical presentations.
  • Effective management of severe hypoglycemia is critical in these rare pediatric cases.

Implications:

  • This case expands the understanding of malignant insulinoma in children, a condition with limited prior documentation.
  • It highlights the need for heightened awareness and specialized diagnostic approaches for pediatric malignant insulinoma.
  • The case emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary management strategies for optimizing outcomes in pediatric patients with rare endocrine tumors.

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)08:46

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Published on: March 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction01:12

Type I Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin resulting from the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Although it can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. The loss of insulin production impairs cellular glucose uptake, resulting in persistent hyperglycemia and necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.Autoimmune Destruction of β-CellsThe hallmark of type 1 diabetes is an...
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:26

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Diabetes Mellitus: Introduction01:26

Diabetes Mellitus: Introduction

Diabetes mellitus consists of chronic metabolic disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This elevated blood glucose results from defects in insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or both. Insulin, produced by pancreatic β-cells, is essential for maintaining glucose homeostasis by facilitating cellular glucose uptake for energy or storage. Disruptions in insulin production or function lead to glucose accumulation in the bloodstream, causing the clinical features and long-term...