Insulinoma : Gross Pathology

Comments:
Gross Pathology: Functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are diagnosed early due to clinical syndromes and therefore they tend to be small at the time of diagnosis. Sporadic insulinomas are solitary, well-demarcated tumors with yellow-white or tan cut surface.

Most cases are small, usually <2.0 cm in size. About 40% are <1.0 cm; some may be as little as 0.3 to 0.4 cm in size. About 10% of insulinomas metastasize and these tumors are usually larger (mean diameter 5-6 cm). About 10% of patients have multiple tumors, most often in the setting of MEN type 1 or familial insulinomatosis.

Image courtesy of Dr. Jean-Christophe Fournet, Paris, France; humpath.com; Used with permission