Diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Ulcerogenic tumor of the pancreas

Abstract

A small proportion of patients with peptic ulcer disease harbor a hormone-secreting pancreatic tumor as the cause of the ulcer diathesis, and if this is not recognized, they may suffer undue morbidity and mortality. Close attention to the patient's history, roentgenographic findings and gastric secretory studies will allow identification of ulcerogenic tumors of the pancreas. Other clues to the diagnosis include associated endocrine abnormalities and diarrhea.