Gastrinoma

Although there are multiple etiologies of clinical hypergastrinemia, the most important cause is gastrinoma [Zollinger-Ellinson (ZE) syndrome]. The most significant advance in the management of patients with the ZE syndrome has been the development of the ability to establish firmly the correct preoperative diagnosis by radioimmunoassay. We believe that all patients who have the ZE syndrome should undergo operation for two reasons: to identify and resect all tumor and because in patients in whom no tumor is found or in whom all tumor cannot be resected, the most reliable relief of hypersectomy symptoms for the life of the patient can be achieved by total gastrectomy.