Unusual presentation of a pancreatic insulinoma in helical CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging: case report

Eur Radiol. 2001;11(6):926-30. doi: 10.1007/s003300000690.

Abstract

Insulinomas are pancreatic neoplasms that can be radiologically characterized typically because of their tendency to present intense and early contrast enhancement with a wash-out phenomenon. In this sense, we report an unusual case of a hypovascular solid pancreatic insulinoma confirmed with surgery and pathologic analysis, in a patient with normal serum insulin levels. In the two-phase helical CT, the mass behaved as a hypodense lesion with respect to the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma during the arterial phase and as a hypointense lesion during the dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Pathologic examination demonstrated a hypercellular tumor with poor vascularization of intervening stroma which showed prominent amyloid deposits.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement*
  • Insulinoma / blood supply
  • Insulinoma / diagnosis*
  • Insulinoma / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Pancreas / blood supply
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*