Malignant insulinoma with metastasis to gallbladder and bone, accompanied by past history of peptic ulcer and hyperthyroidism

A case of a malignant insulinoma in a 53-year-old female is presented. In 1973, the patient underwent caudal pancreatectomy for a malignant insulinoma. Ten years later, it was discovered that the insulinoma had spread to the bones. On admission for cholecystectomy because of a gallbladder polyp and gallstones, she often experienced hypoglycemic attacks, and both calcium and glucagon provocation tests elicited marked release of insulin. Selective angiography of the common hepatic artery showed a tumor blush near the hilum of the liver. Immunohistochemical staining of the gallbladder polyp and the bone tumors proved positive for insulin. Plasma levels of insulin and prolactin were abnormally high. The patient had also been treated for a perforated duodenal ulcer and hyperthyroidism. It is concluded that this may have been a case of a multiple endocrine neoplasia.