4th April 2024

Gastrinoma

Gastrinomas are gastrin secreting tumours most commonly found in the duodenum or pancreas, causing a rare syndrome called Zollinger-Ellison. This leads to gastroduodenal ulceration, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and malabsorption. Screening is by measuring fasting gastrin levels. For diagnosis, a secretin stimulation test may be performed or through histology via tumour sampling. There is an association with MEN-1. Treatment of choice is to remove it surgically when possible; generally, this is when the disease is localised but not in MEN-1. Medical management involves protein pump inhibitors or somatostatin analogues for the hypersecretion of gastric acid. Several chemotherapeutic agents can be used for those with metastatic disease.