INTRODUCTION: The insulinoma is the most frequent endocrine neoplasm among the functional pancreatic tumors. It originates in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and is characterized by the oversecretion of insulin, leading to hypoglycemia. The treatment of choice is the surgical excision of the tumor. The aim of the present report is to describe a rarely observed metabolic complication. CASE REPORT: The case is presented of a 41-year-old man with a 2-year history of dizziness, blurred vision and seizures. The symptoms were closely related to prolonged fasting and improved with eating; hypoglycemia was found during one of the episodes. Symptoms were relieved immediately after intravenous administration of glucose. Blood glucose workup showed severe hypoglycemia. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging did not show any alteration in the pancreas. With the diagnostic hypothesis of organic hypoglycemia from a likely insulinoma, the patient underwent the enucleation of the lesion. On the 5th postoperative day, a pancreatic fistula appeared, as well as metabolic acidosis which resolved satisfactorily. The histopathological report showed a 1.5-cm endocrine pancreatic tumor. CONCLUSION: Every patient submitted to pancreatic insulinoma resection should stay in an intensive care unit during the immediate postoperative period and their glycemic levels must be monitored closely to prevent metabolic acidosis.
Insulinoma; Pancreatic neoplasms; Metabolic acidosis
