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Stage Explanation
Stages of islet cell cancer
Gastrinoma
Insulinoma
Glucagonoma
Miscellaneous
Recurrent
Stages of islet cell cancer
Once islet cell cancer is found, more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. The
staging system for islet cell cancer is still being developed. These tumors are most often divided into one of three groups:
- islet cell cancers occurring in one site within the pancreas,
- islet cell cancers occurring in several sites within the pancreas, or
- islet cell cancers that have spread to lymph nodes near the pancreas or to
distant sites.
Treatment of islet cell cancer depends on the type of tumor, the stage, and the
patient’s general health. The following types of islet cell tumors are found:
Gastrinoma
The tumor makes large amounts of a hormone called gastrin, which causes too
much acid to be made in the stomach. Ulcers may develop as a result of too
much stomach acid.
Insulinoma
The tumor makes too much of the hormone insulin and causes the body to store
sugar instead of burning the sugar for energy. This causes too little sugar in
the blood, a condition called hypoglycemia.
Glucagonoma
This tumor makes too much of the hormone glucagon and causes too much sugar in the blood, a condition called hyperglycemia.
Miscellaneous
Other types of islet cell cancer can affect the pancreas and/or small
intestine. Each type of tumor may affect different hormones in the body and
cause different symptoms.
Recurrent
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has
been treated. It may come back in the pancreas or in another part of the body.
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