Insulinoma in a Saudi Arabian university hospital: a twenty-year review

Abstract

Information on insulinoma in SaudiArabia is lacking. The objective of the study was to review clinical features of the disease in a typical national referral center. In all, 5 cases of insulinoma were recorded atKing Khalid University Hospital Riyadh Saudi Arabia between January 1987 and December 2006. During the 20-year period, there were three females (ages 38, 40, and 70 years) and two males (17 and 34 years). The duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis ranged between one and eight years. The commonest mode of presentation before diagnosis was difficulty in observing Ramadan fasting due to intolerable hunger. Other notable symptoms included dizziness and loss of consciousness.All the five patients proceeded to operation.At surgery all were found to be benign tumors. Post-operatively, 3 of the patients developed pseudocyst, which resolved upon undergoing second surgery.

Keywords: Insulinoma, Clinical presentation, Saudi Arabia