Endocrine tumours

Endocrine tumours - Insulinoma, Gastrinoma and Vipoma - are rare, and cause symptoms as a result of the hormones they secrete. An insulinoma secretes insulin, causing symptoms of hypoglycaemia which may present as fits or simply profound lethargy between meals. The symptoms are abolished by taking glucose. Gastrinomas secrete gastrin, which stimulates the stomach to produce acid and causes multiple peptic ulcers which may be difficult to treat - called the Zollinger Ellison syndrome (see the stomach and duodenum section). 50 per cent of gastrinomas are malignant, and spread quickly. The cells of a vipoma secrete a hormone called vasoactive intestinal peptide (or vip) which causes attacks of flushing and severe diarrhoea. Sometimes these tumours may occur in association with tumours affecting the pituitary (see the brain section) - condition known as multiple endocrine neoplasia or MEN. In some cases the disease may be familial.
 
 
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