Mesodermal Tumors Associated with Hypoglycemia

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Abstract
The recent literature on non-epithelial tumors associated with hypoglycemic symptoms is reviewed and a case of recurrent locally invasive hemangiopericytoma associated with hypoglycemia is reported. The functional ability of this tumor became apparent only when recurrent tumor attained a large size 10 years after the first excision. Hypoglycemic symptoms were relieved by subtotal excisions of the tumor. This review illustrates the importance of seeking out functioning tumors and the effectiveness of reduction of tumor mass in alleviating hypoglycemic symptoms. The importance of a vigorous surgical attack on these tumors is emphasized. This can be a life-saving measure since it is not uncommon for these patients to die in hypoglycemic shock rather than as a result of metastases which, in fact, are uncommon.