A gastrinoma is a rare tumor that develops in the gastrin producing cells, typically in a person’s pancreas or duodenum. Successful treatment of these tumors depends greatly on how early they are discovered, so if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with an endocrine specialist today. Today, we take a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for individuals dealing with a gastrinoma.
Gastrinoma Causes and Symptoms
As we mentioned above, gastrinomas form in the gastrin producing cells in your pancreas or duodenum. Gastrin is a hormone that controls the amount of acid in a person’s stomach, which helps us digest our food. When a tumor develops, it causes these cells to produce too much stomach acid, which can lead to ulcers in the stomach and bowel system. Over time, this can lead to severe ulcer development, which is known as Zollinger Ellison Syndrome.
Thankfully, gastrinomas are very rare. Only about 1 in 250,000 people develop a gastrinomas each year. The majority of gastrinomas (between 60-90%) are cancerous, so again, early detection is critical.
There is no known cause of gastrinoma formation, although individuals who have a rare family cancer syndrome known as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) have a higher risk of gastrinoma formation.
Symptoms of a gastrinoma include:
- Abdominal pain
- Feeling sick
- Blood in the stool
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrinomas
An endocrine surgeon will begin the diagnostic process by measuring the amount of the hormone gastrin in your blood and the amount of acid in your stomach. You may also undergo an MRI, CT scan or endoscopy. These tests will help determine if you’re dealing with a gastrinoma, and a biopsy may then be conducted to determine if it is cancerous.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, treatment can begin. Surgery is the preferred route, although if the cancer has spread to other areas of your body, surgery may not be an option and at that point, and controlling symptoms is the best approach. If you will need surgery, the surgeon will either perform an operation that removes the tumor, the tumor and part of the head of the pancreas, or the tumor and part of the tail of the pancreas. Your exact surgery will depend on a number of factors, including the size and location of the tumor. As long as it hasn’t spread to other organs, surgery is typically quite successful.
Hopefully you never need to worry about gastrinomas, but if you do, we’re here to help. Contact Dr. Koeplin’s office today.
