Diabetes after removal of insulin tumours of pancreas: a long-term follow-up survey of 11 patients.

Eleven patients who had islet cell tumours of the pancreas removed over a 20-year period were reviewed. Two had died, one in the postoperative period and one 10 years post-operatively. The remaining nine were traced and eight of them were personally interviewed and tested. All nine were well and free from recurrent symptoms. Five of the eight had evidence of subnormal insulin production in response to oral glucose. Glucose tolerance was impaired in three. Minor anomalies were found in the electroencephalograms of all these patients and major abnormalities in two.The results of this survey suggest that other patients who have had islet cell tumours removed may now have unsuspected diabetes.