[Zollinger-Ellison syndrome]

Abstract

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is caused by mainly pancreatic, gastrin-producing tumours, which show a high rate of malignancy. The clinical picture is dominated by gastric hypersecretion, which results in the development of peptic ulcerations of the stomach and duodenum, reflux esophagitis, or diarrhea. The differentiation from other types of hypergastrinemia is done by provocative tests, mainly the secretin-test. Because of the high malignancy rate, therapeutically, a symptomatic treatment of gastric hypersecretion by H2-receptor antagonists or in cases of ineffective conservative treatment total gastrectomy is performed. In patients with duodenal gastrinomas or in the rare cases with benign pancreatic tumours resection of the tumours is the therapy of choice.