digestive disorders
Gastrinoma
Introduction
A gastrinoma is a tumor usually in the Pancreas or duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) that produces excessive levels of the hormone gastrin, which stimulates the stomach to secrete acid and enzymes, causing These tumors arise from cells in the pancreas that produce gastrin. Symptoms are similar to those caused by peptic ulcers, including pain and bleeding. Diagnosis includes blood and imaging tests. Treatment includes medications to reduce acid in the stomach and sometimes surgery and chemotherapy. The survival rate is high if the tumor is completely removed. Gastrinomas are a type of Overview of Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors . About half of the tumors are cancerous. Gastrinomas usually are small and grow slowly. Sometimes a gastrinoma occurs as part of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes (MEN) , a hereditary disorder in which tumors arise from the cells of various endocrine glands, such as the 