Presentation, diagnostic features and glucose handling in a monocentric series of insulinomas

New aspects have emerged in the clinical and diagnostic scenarios of insulinoma: current guidelines have lowered the diagnostic insulin threshold to 3 μU/ml in the presence of hypoglycemia (<55 mg/dl); post-prandial hypoglycemia has been reported as the only presenting symptom; preexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) was recognized in some patients.

To evaluate clinical features, diagnostic criteria and glucose metabolic profile in a monocentric series of patients affected by insulinomas including two subgroups: sporadic and multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 syndrome (MEN-1).

Clinical, pathological and biochemical data regarding 33 patients were analyzed.

following the current guidelines the 72-h fasting test was initially positive in all cases but one. In this case the test, initially negative, became positive after a 2-yr follow-up. Nadir insulin level was ≥ 3 μU/ml but <6 μU/ml in 3 patients and ≥ 6 μU/ml in the remaining 30 cases. At presentation, 27 patients (82%) reported only fasting symptoms, 3 (9%) only post-prandial and 3 (9%) both. Seven cases (21%) had previously been affected by type 2 DM or impaired glucose metabolism.

In our series the new cut-off of insulin increased the sensitivity of the 72-h fasting test from 87% to 97%. The absence of hypoglycemia during the test cannot definitively rule out the diagnosis and the test should be repeated in every highly suspicious case. Post-prandial hypoglycemia can be the only presenting symptom. DM may be associated with the occurrence of insulinoma. So that a possible diagnosis of insulinoma must not be ignored if previous impaired glucose handling is evident.