Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head
Published on: January 3, 2020
[Pancreatic proinsulinoma]
A G Kriger1, S V Berelavichus1, D S Gorin1
1A.V. Vishnevsky National Research Center for Surgery, Moscow, Russia.
Objective:
To report own experience in the treatment of patients with proinsulinoma.
Material And Methods:
There were 10 patients with increased proinsulin production and normal insulin level since 2017. Most of them were young women.
Results:
Fasting hypoglycemia in all patients was severe (up to 0.7 mmol/l). Clinical picture consisted of typical symptoms similar to those in insulinoma. The main difference in the course of proinsulinoma was the absence of weight gain in 7 patients and rapid weight loss (from 210 to 90 kg within 9 months) in 1 patient. All patients with proinsulinoma underwent surgery. In most cases, minimally aggressive surgery was performed.
Conclusion:
Proinsulinoma is an extremely rare endocrine-active neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. Differential features of proinsulinoma are the absence of weight gain and normal insulin levels in the presence of hypoglycemia. Surgery is the only radical method of treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...
01:05Insulin Secretory Vesicles
01:25Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment...
01:16Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...