Somatostatinomas are rare endocrine
tumors that were first described in 1977. In addition to the present case report, there have been 31 cases reported in the literature. We have reviewed the literature to integrate the symptoms, physical findings, diagnostic tests, treatment, and length of survival of these patients. Although the symptoms that occurred in the majority of cases were those that are seen in most patients with intra-
abdominal neoplasms, symptoms relating to the presence of excess circulating
somatostatin--diabetes, maldigestion, and
cholelithiasis--were frequently seen. Physical findings and the results of diagnostic tests were usually nonspecific. The majority of the patients underwent radical
surgical procedures (Whipple procedure or pancreatic resection). The pancreas was the most frequent site of involvement (21/31 cases), but primaries in the duodenum, ampulla of Vater, cystic duct, and jejunum have been described as well.
Metastases were most frequently seen in the liver and lymph nodes. Chemotherapeutic agents were administered to 10 patients, usually as adjuvant
therapy, and appear to be useful in treating recurrent and metastatic disease. The one-year survival of these patients is 48%, which is better than that for patients with
carcinoma of the pancreas or biliary tree. Therefore, it is important that the diagnosis of somatostinoma be made so that the patient may be treated accordingly and followed by serial
somatostatin levels for evidence of
metastasis or recurrent disease.