Islet cell adenomatosis: a report of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Two cases of nesidioblastosis in infants with severe neonatal hypoglycemia were studied by immunocytochemical staining and electron microscopic examination of the resected pancreata. There was a diffuse proliferation of insulin-, glucagon-, and somatostatin-producing cells in both cases. A 0.6-cm adenoma present in one cases consisted of insulin-, glucagon-, and somatostatin-producing cells in close proximity to ductal cells. Pancreatic polypeptides-producing cells were also identified by electron microscopy. These findings indicate that some adenomas consist of mixed islet cell types, although severe hypoglycemia is usually the major initial symptom.