60-year-old woman with rare pancreatic tumour treated successfully at Kauvery Hospital

Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani successfully treated a 60-year-old woman with a rare pancreatic tumour ‘insulinoma’ using advanced technology.

The woman had constant low blood sugar and frequent episodes of loss of consciousness. In the initial investigation like contrast CT scan and PET scan, the cause couldn’t be identified and subsequently, specialised blood tests measuring insulin and C-peptide levels and targeted endoscopic ultrasound was done which located the tumour, according to a press release.

As the tumour measured 1.3 cm and was at the neck of the pancreas, the surgical team used a robotic-assisted approach with robotic intraoperative ultrasound to localise it with precision and remove it safely. The surgery was successful and her blood sugar began to normalise after the procedure.

P. Basumani, senior consultant and director, Kauvery Institute of Digestive Sciences, Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, said: “Insulinomas are extremely difficult to locate, especially when they are small. Specialised blood tests combined with focused endoscopic ultrasound evaluation helped us precisely identify the tumour.”