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Updated: Sep 12, 2026

Isolation of Human Islets from Partially Pancreatectomized Patients
Published on: July 30, 2011
Case Report: Hypoglycemia Due to Metastatic Insulinoma in Insulin-Dependent Type 2 Diabetes Successfully Treated With
Shejil Kumar1, Mariah Melek1, Peter Rohl1
1Endocrinology Department, St George Public Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
We describe a 96-year-old man with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus who, despite insulin cessation, presented with recurrent hypoglycemia associated with confirmed inappropriate endogenous hyperinsulinemia. 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET/CT scans demonstrated increased uptake in the pancreatic tail with multiple large intensely active liver metastases. Liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of well-differentiated metastatic neuroendocrine tumor. He was unsuitable for surgical resection and long-acting somatostatin analog therapy was ineffective. Subsequent management with four cycles of Lutate [177-Lutetium-DOTA0-Tyr3-octreotate (177Lu-DOTATATE)] resulted in resolution of hypoglycemia and ongoing clinical, biochemical, and radiological response 6 years after. This case is unique due to not only the paradoxical entity of insulinoma in insulin-dependent diabetes but also the positive sustained outcome after 177Lu-DOTATATE, given that unresectable metastatic insulinoma carries a poor prognosis. We review published cases of metastatic insulinoma in patients with diabetes mellitus as well as the literature to-date investigating efficacy and safety of Lutate therapy in metastatic insulinoma.
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