Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ectopic insulinoma in a dog with insulin-induced hypoglycemia: a case report.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary science
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Kim, Jiwon et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging · South Korea
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu was brought in because she kept having low blood sugar episodes. Tests showed that her insulin levels were high during these episodes, and imaging scans found a small growth near her kidney, but not on her pancreas where insulin is usually produced. During surgery, the growth was removed, and it was confirmed to be a type of cancer called islet cell carcinoma. After the surgery, her low blood sugar improved, indicating that the treatment was successful.
Abstract
A 7-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu dog was presented for evaluation of recurrent hypoglycemia. Serum insulin levels during hypoglycemia were 35.3 μIU/mL. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a mesenteric nodule between the kidney and the portal vein, but no pancreatic mass was observed. During surgery, the nodule had neither anatomical adhesions nor vascular connections to the pancreas. Pancreatic inspection and palpation revealed no abnormalities. Hypoglycemia improved after resection of the nodule. Histopathological examination confirmed the nodule to be an islet cell carcinoma. Although extremely rare, ectopic insulinoma should be considered as a possible cause of insulin-induced hypoglycemia in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37271507/