Somatostatin Inhibition of Insulin and Gastrin Hypersecretion in Pancreatic Islet-Cell Carcinoma

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Abstract
SOMATOSTATIN has been reported to diminish basal insulin levels1 and to inhibit insulin secretion stimulated by glucose,2 arginine,3 glucagon,4 and tolbutamide4 in normal man. These effects of somatostatin administration have not been associated with serious untoward effects. Therefore, it has been suggested5 that somatostatin might be efficacious in suppressing autonomous hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic islet-cell adenomas or carcinomas. In the following case, somatostatin was indeed found to be effective in suppressing insulin hypersecretion in a woman with metastatic pancreatic islet-cell carcinoma. Somatostatin also reduced elevated serum gastrin levels.Case ReportA 54-year-old woman was admitted to the University of . . .