Delay in the diagnosis of insulinomas

The median diagnostic delay in 32 patients with verified insulinomas was 2 3/4 years (range 1/4--18). The median delay in the 1939--1958 period was shorter (2 years, n = 17) than in the 1959--1978 period (3 years, n = 15). Thus, modern developments with insulin estimations were without noticeable effect upon the diagnostic delay. The findings can probably only be explained by a poor awareness of the insulinoma syndrome in the medical profession.