Islet Cell Cancer

Overview

Mayo Clinic is a recognized leader in diagnosing and treating islet cell cancer, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Mayo Clinic surgeons perform more than 350 pancreatic cancer procedures annually. The treatment teams' unique knowledge and skill is invaluable to patients who have this rare cancer.

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic physicians use the latest diagnostic tests to help determine the best treatment plan for each patient. Diagnostic tools may include transabdominal or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), octreoscan, positron emission tomography (PET), and tissue biopsy. Read more about diagnosis of islet cell cancer.

Treatment Options

A collaborative team of experienced medical and surgical specialists determines the best treatment for each patient. The team may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, hepatic arterial embolization, or radiofrequency ablation. Depending on the stage of the cancer, they may decide to combine therapies. In some situations, the team may consider liver transplantation. Read more about treatment options for islet cell cancer.

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About Islet Cell Cancer

One function of the pancreas is production of hormones (insulin, glucagons, somatostatin) that regulate digestion, metabolism, and the way the body stores and uses food. The hormone-producing area of the pancreas (endocrine pancreas) has special cells called islet cells. Only about 5 percent of pancreatic cancers start here.

If the islet cells in the endocrine pancreas become cancerous they can produce too many hormones and create what are called functioning tumors. Read more about symptoms.

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