Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
03:57
Generation of Hypoparathyroid Rats via Carbon-Nanoparticle-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
Published on: July 14, 2023
[Paraneoplastic hypoglyacemia]
I Ságová1, A Klimentová, D Prídavková
1Interna Klinika Jesseniovej Lekarskej Fakulty UK a UN Martin, Slovenska Republika. iva.sagova@gmail.com
Vnitrni Lekarstvi
|June 18, 2013
Summary
Paraneoplastic hypoglycemia (PH) is a rare condition caused by insulinomas or nonislet cell tumors (NICT). Early diagnosis of NICT, often large mesenchymal tumors, significantly improves patient quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
Background:
- Paraneoplastic hypoglycemia (PH) is a rare endocrine disorder.
- It can stem from insulinomas or nonislet cell tumors (NICT).
- PH is a primary cause of fasting hypoglycemia.
Observation:
- Nonislet cell tumors (NICTs) are the most frequent cause of PH.
- Large mesenchymal tumors constitute over 50% of neoplasms linked to hypoglycemia.
- Neuroglycopenic symptoms may precede NICT diagnosis for extended periods.
Findings:
- NICTs are the predominant cause of paraneoplastic hypoglycemia.
- Mesenchymal tumors are the most common neoplastic cause.
- Delayed diagnosis of NICTs is common, with symptoms persisting for years.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of NICTs is crucial for effective treatment.
- Timely diagnosis and management of PH can significantly enhance patient outcomes.
- Understanding the link between specific tumors and hypoglycemia aids clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Hypoglycemia 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...
01:26Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
01:27Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
01:19Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
01:29Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
01:19Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...