Nesidioblastosis in adults. A surgical dilemma.

Nesidioblastosis is the leading cause of hyperinsulinemia in newborns and infants. To our knowledge, it has not been previously reported in adults unless associated with other diseases. Three males and three females, aged 11 to 57 years, are described. Pancreatic resections ranged from 50% to 100%. Postoperatively, three patients were normoglycemic, two were insulin-dependent diabetics, and one had recurrent hypoglycemia controlled by drugs. The histologic findings in adults were very similar to those in infants with nesidioblastosis. It appears that a minimum resection of 75% to 80% of the pancreas will benefit the majority of patients, alleviating hypoglycemia and preventing the development of diabetes.