Definition of the role of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor localization.

There are six major steps in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) (carcinoids and pancreatic endocrine tumors). One of the steps that is increasing in its importance is the need to assess primary tumor location and tumor extent in these patients. Without such information, it is not possible to adequately manage these patients.

Iron absorption in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome treated with long-term gastric acid antisecretory therapy.

Background: Gastric acid secretion is important for absorption of dietary non-haem iron, and iron deficiency is common in gastric hyposecretory states such as after gastric resection. It is not known if prolonged, continuous treatment with potent acid suppressants such as omeprazole will lead to iron deficiency or lower body iron stores.

Aim: To assess iron stores and the occurrence of iron deficiency anaemia in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) treated long-term with gastric antisecretory drugs.

Effect of long-term gastric acid suppressive therapy on serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Background And Aims: Long-term treatment with H(+)-K(+)-adenotriphosphatase (ATPase) inhibitors, such as omeprazole or lansoprazole, for severe gastroesophageal reflux disease is now widely used. Whether such treatment will result in vitamin B12 deficiency is controversial. We studied whether long-term treatment with omeprazole alters serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Primary cardiac gastrinoma causing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare, and there are no reports of patients with a functional gastroenteropancreatic tumor syndrome caused by such a tumor. This case report describes a patient with a cardiac gastrinoma causing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Evidence is presented that this tumor represents a primary cardiac tumor.

Value of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy: a prospective study in gastrinoma of its effect on clinical management.

Background & Aims: Recently [111In-DTPA-D-Phe1]-octreotide was approved for somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) of gastroenteropancreatic tumors. SRS and other tumor localization methods can be time consuming, expensive, and involve patient inconvenience. The role of SRS in comparison to other tumor localization modalities remains undefined because the relative effects of these methods on management have not been studied.