Hypoglycemia secondary to metastases to the liver. A case report and review of the literature.

A 76-year-old man presented with hypoglycemic coma associated with metastatic liver disease. Serum immunoreactive insulin excluded insulinoma as a cause of hypoglycemia. Negative glucose responses to glucagon and epinephrine testing indicated failure of compensatory glycogenolysis. The patient's increased glucose requirements of 500 g per 24 hr were reduced to normal only after shrinkage of the liver tumor bulk was accomplished with chemotherapy. Hepatic hypoglycemia is discussed and the literature is reviewed.