Unmasked insulinoma occasioned by severe hypoglycemic coma immediately postpartum: a case report.
BMC Endocr Disord
; 23(1): 168, 2023 Aug 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37563593
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Insulinoma in women during pregnancy and postpartum is very rare; approximately 65% of cases are diagnosed early in pregnancy and ~ 35% immediately after delivery, few being found in middle or late pregnancy, likely due to increased insulin resistance seen after early-stage pregnancy. We successfully treated a case of insulinoma in which severe hypoglycemic coma immediately after delivery occasioned detailed investigation and diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION Our patient experienced hypoglycemic coma in the 3rd month of pregnancy (initially considered due to her hyperemesis gravidarum) that improved spontaneously during the gestational period. No abnormalities of plasma glucose or body weight were found in regular checkups during her pregnancy; however, recurrence of hypoglycemic coma after delivery led us to suspect insulinoma. While contrast enhanced computer tomography and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) initially failed to detect a tumor in the pancreas, selective arterial calcium stimulation test revealed an insulin-secreting tumor localized in the pancreatic body. She then underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy; a 10-mm tumor positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and insulin was identified.CONCLUSIONS:
Although pregnancy can mask insulinoma-associated symptoms and make diagnosis challenging, hypoglycemic episodes during early pregnancy, which were observed in this case, are suggestive of insulinoma. Importantly, in this case, accurate preoperative localization of the tumor enabled prompt curative surgery after delivery. Thus, clinical vigilance for the occurrence of insulinoma and its localization is appropriate for pregnant women suffering severe hypoglycemia.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias Pancreáticas
/
Hipoglicemia
/
Insulinoma
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article