CANINE INSULINOMA

Insulinoma is a rare functional neoplasm of the pancreas. Most of the affected dogs are old. The clinical signs include those of hyperinsuli nism as well as those of increased discharge of the sympathetic nervou s system. The most reliable diagnostic test for this condition is demo nstration of an inappropriately high serum insulin level in the presen ce of hypoglycemia. Surgical exploration to confirm the diagnosis, sta ge the disease, and remove neoplastic tissue is the treatment of choic e. Blood glucose must be closely monitored during the procedure. Ultra sonography seldom locates the tumor but may reveal metastasis. The sho rt-term prognosis for dogs with insulinoma is good. However, the longt erm prognosis is grave, partly because of the advanced age of most of the patients. This article presents a stepwise protocol for the sympto matic management of insulinoma cases in which surgery is declined or c linical signs recur after initial surgical treatment.