[beta-cell pancreatic hyperplasia. Considerations on a clinical case]

Differential haematological and instrumental examinations (OGTT, protracted fasting, i.v. tolbutamide, blood insulin, pancreatic scintiscanning, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, panoramic abdominal arteriography, and selective arteriography of the coeliac trunk), preceded subtotal pancreasectomy in a severe case of hypoglycaemia attributable to organic hyperinsulinism. Epstein's method was used to extract insulin from the pancreatic tissue for radioimmunological assay.