Glucagonoma and its angiographic diagnosis

Four patients with metastatic glucagonoma are described. Angiography demonstrated a small avascular primary tumor of the tail of the pancreas in one patient and large hypervascular tumors of the pancreatic head in the other three. Liver metastases, were hypervascular in all four. Including our 4 with 21 cases from the literature, glucagonomas show a 92% incidence of increased tumor vascularity--thus increasing the likelihood of successful angiographic diagnosis. The awareness of clinically subtle or atypical glucagonomas and use of plasma glucagon determination are important factors leading to early diagnosis of these neoplasms. Since angiography can localize the tumor, assess its extent, and detect hepatic metastases, it is essential to the detailed evaluation of glucagonomas.