Nesidioblastoma

A nesidioblastoma or islet cell carcinoma is a rare type of cancer of the pancreas. Unlike most pancreatic cancers, a nesidioblastoma will produce large quantities of insulin in response to normal stress stimuli, resulting in the blood sugar level of the patient plunging, resulting in insulin coma. As such, it presents very much like insulin overdose or hypoglycemia.
Treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. If the tumor is small and localized, the patient has a very good chance of living another ten years. However, in cases where the tumor has spread, life expectancy averages two years.
Islet cell carcinoma at Wikipedia
Category:Oncology