| [ Summary ] |
The majority of glucagonoma cases are due to glucagon-producing pancreatic alpha-cells tumors, most of which are malignant. Enteroglucagonomas derived from L-cells in the gut are rare. The clinical presentation of glucagonoma, called glucagonoma syndrome, includes hypoaminoacidemia, diabetes mellitus, weight loss, necrolytic migatory erythema, normochromic anemia. The production of other hormones is not rare in glucagonoma. Glucagonoma can also constitute part of multiple endocrine neoplasia. Most glucagonoma cases are found after fourth decade, and the progression of symptom is relatively slow. The best treatment is radical resection of the tumor. However, partial tumor resection , embolization of metastatic tumors, and medical treatment have all been shown to be effective. Recently developed somatostatin receptor scintigraphy has been proved to be effective in localization of primary and metastatic lesions. |