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Doctors may also call them neuroendocrine tumors (NET) or islet cell tumors. These tumors secrete large amounts of the hormone somatostatin. Approximately 75% of somatostatinomas are cancerous. The most common symptoms of somatostatinomas are abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms rarely appear in the early stages. Somatostatinomas are curable with surgery. During the surgery, a surgeon will remove the tumor entirely. Early diagnosis is key as the surgery becomes more complicated if the cancer has spread. Somatostatinomas occur in only 1 in 40 million people. More than half occur in the head of the pancreas, while the rest tend to grow in the duodenum — the first part of the small intestine. In this article, we review in more detail the symptoms, causes, and treatment of somatostatinomas and the outlook for people with this tumor. What is a somatostatinoma Share on PinterestPhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty ImagesNETs begin in the specialized cells of the neuroendocrine system. These cells produce hormones and play a role in a number of the body’s functions. NETs can develop in any part of a person’s body but commonly exist in the:gastrointestinal tractlungs pancreas Somatostatinomas are a type of NET that can develop in the pancreas or the duodenum. Signs and symptoms Somatostatinomas are slow-growing tumors. The symptoms are nonspecific, which means that they resemble those of other common medical problems. Most people do not have severe symptoms until the disease is very advanced. The symptoms are then similar to those that appear in other forms of pancreatic cancer. Symptoms may include:loss of appetitenausea and vomitingabdominal painfrequent diarrheaunintentional weight loss Additional signs and symptoms of somatostatinomas depend on the location of the tumor, which may be in the pancreas or the small intestine. Pancreatic somatostatinomas Somatostatinomas in the pancreas will produce a peptide hormone called somatostatin. Somatostatin helps keep all of the gastrointestinal hormones in balance by blocking their secretion when necessary. Two examples of these hormones are insulin and gastrin. In less than 10% of cases, this excess of somatostatin leads to somatostatinoma syndrome. People with this syndrome may develop:diabetes (high blood sugar)steatorrhea (greasy, fatty, and difficult-to-flush stools)cholelithiasis (gallstones) Duodenal somatostatinomas Somatostatinomas in the duodenum do not cause somatostatinoma syndrome. These tumors can cause no symptoms at all, but if the tumor grows, it may cause symptoms to develop. The tumor can spread to the liver and nearby lymph nodes. This may result in a blockage in parts of the intestines or gallbladder tubes. This obstruction could lead to symptoms such as:bloody diarrheajaundice of the skin or whites of the eyesa painful and swollen belly Causes Somatostatinomas are the result of excess delta cells. However, the cause of this overgrowth remains unknown. It can occur in anyone, with or without a history of cancer in the family. Some somatostatinomas may be hereditary. They may occur with other rare genetic syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Risk factors There are several risk factors for somatostatinomas. These include:Genetics: A gene mutation or abnormality can pass down from a parent to a child.Age: Most somatostatinomas are slow-growing and occur in individuals over the age of 50. Smoking: Any history of smoking can increase a person’s chance of developing a neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas.Alcohol: Heavy drinking may increase the risk of somatostatinoma growth.Pancreatitis: Experts have associated chronic inflammation of the pancreas with an increased risk of somatostatinomas.Diabetes: Somatostatinomas are more common in people who have type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis The vague nature of somatostatinoma symptoms makes these tumors difficult to diagnose. This can delay diagnosis for many months to several years. Doctors usually find somatostatinomas when diagnosing unexplained abdominal pain, weight loss, blood loss, or diarrhea. A somatostatinoma diagnosis may also occur after a pancreatic cancer surgery biopsy. Diagnostic tests for somatostatinomas include:Blood tests: During blood tests, a person with somatostatinomas can show elevated somatostatin hormone levels. A doctor may then order an imaging test to look for the tumor and confirm the diagnosis.Computerized tomography (CT) scan: During this procedure, a doctor passes a number of beams of radiation through the person’s body. These beams can produce a detailed image of structures in the body to see if a tumor is present. CT scans can provide a 2D image of a “slice” of the body or a 3D image.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: An MRI scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create images. MRI scans can create detailed images of organs and other tissues within the body that a doctor can use to see if a tumor is present. MRI scans differ from CT scans and X-rays as they do not use potentially harmful radiation.Endoscopic ultrasound: During this procedure, a doctor inserts a thin tube into the mouth and down into the first part of the small intestine. The tube has a small ultrasound probe that emits sound waves that bounce off the surrounding structures. The probe then recaptures these waves and produces an image of the surrounding area that a doctor can use to see if a tumor is present and make a diagnosis.Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy: During this test, a doctor injects radioactive octreotide, a drug similar to somatostatin, into the person’s veins. This drug attaches itself to tumor cells that have receptors for somatostatin. A radiation-measuring device can then detect the radioactive octreotide and creates images showing where the tumor cells are. How they differ from VIPomas VIPomas are another rare type of pancreatic cancer. They usually develop in the pancreas but may also be in the duodenum. People with VIPomas may have an oversecretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). VIP blocks the release of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juices, which causes problems with digesting food. As a result, people with VIPomas have frequent and large amounts of watery diarrhea. People who have VIPomas often suffer from dehydration and low potassium levels. This can lead to hospitalization. It is possible that doctors may mistake VIPoma symptoms for those of cholera. Doctors usually recommend managing VIPomas with somatostatin analogs. Treatment options The only way to cure a somatostatinoma is to remove it completely with surgery. The extent of surgery depends on the size of the tumor and its location in the pancreas. The procedure may just involve the removal of a localized tumor. If the tumor has spread, it may require a more extensive surgical procedure known as a Whipple procedure. This surgery removes the head of the pancreas, duodenum, gallbladder, bile duct, and lymph nodes. If complete removal of the tumor is not possible, there are some additional treatment options. These include:a procedure called ablation, which uses extreme heat or cold to destroy small tumorssomatostatin analog medications to slow down hormone production and shrink the tumor chemotherapy or specific medications to treat cancer that has spreada type of treatment called molecular targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances to identify the cancer cells and attack only them When to see a doctor Somatostatinoma symptoms are vague and can resemble those of many different medical conditions. They may come and go over several months or years. Any individual who experiences unexplained weight loss, jaundice, abdominal pain, poor appetite, diarrhea, or greasy bowel movements should see a doctor. Outlook Somatostatinomas make up less than 2% of all pancreatic cancers. They are the rarest type of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor. A person’s outlook will depend on their overall health and the extent of the tumor. If the tumor has not yet spread, surgery offers the best chance of a complete recovery. Survival rates The 10-year survival rate for pancreatic somatostatinoma is about 72%. Even when a somatostatinoma has spread, the survival rate is higher than that of the other types of neuroendocrine tumors. People with somatostatinomas also tend to have a better outlook than those with other types of pancreatic cancer. Summary Somatostatinomas are a rare type of tumor that grow in or around the pancreas. Doctors may also refer to these tumors as neuroendocrine tumors or islet cell tumors. Symptoms include a loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and unintentional weight loss. Certain factors may increase a person’s risk of developing somatostatinomas, including genetics, increased age, smoking, alcohol consumption, pancreatitis, and diabetes. A doctor may use blood tests or imaging tests to diagnose the tumors. The most common treatment is the surgical removal of the tumors. A person’s outlook depends on their overall health, the size of the tumor, and whether the tumor has spread. The 10-year survival rate for pancreatic somatostatinoma is about 72%. Last medically reviewed on June 29, 2022EndocrinologyPancreatic CancerCancer / Oncology 9 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.De Herder, W. W., et al. (2021). Somatostatinoma.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279034/?report=readerDiMaio, C. J. (n.d.). Pancreas endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). https://pancreasfoundation.org/endoscopic-ultrasound-eus/Elangovan, A., et al. (2022). Somatostatinoma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551613/Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). (2018). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreatic-neuroendocrine-tumor.htmlPeptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). (2022). https://www.cancercenter.com/treatment-options/precision-medicine/targeted-therapy/peptide-receptor-radionuclide-therapySomatostatinoma. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/somatostatinomaSomatostatin receptor scintigraphy. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/somatostatin-receptor-scintigraphyWhat are somatostatin analogues? (2019).https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/neuroendocrine-tumours-nets/treatment/somatostatin-analogues/what-areZakaria, A., et al. (2019). Somatostatinoma presented as double-duct sign.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6532322/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD — By Kathleen Davis, FNP and Adam Rowden — Updated on June 29, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhipple disease: Causes and treatmentsMedically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH Whipple disease is an infectious bacterial intestinal disease. It commonly causes diarrhea and weight loss. If the central nervous system is affected…READ MOREWhat is necrotizing pancreatitis?Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH Necrotizing pancreatitis occurs when parts of the pancreas die from lack of blood and oxygen. 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